









|Si^- 



^^ Jr Wi.> 1/ r"^- )?- fen !/^::^^- fe%^ ;^ I/ft • 



She needs no skeptic's puny hands, 

While near the school the church spire stands; 

Nor fears the bigot's blinded rule, 

While near the church spire stands the school. 

—J. G. Whittier. 



Goodhue County, 

MINNESOTA, 

PAST AND PRESENT. 



BY AN OLD SETTLER. 



1893. 

RED WINQ PRINTINa CO. 

RED Wirta, MINK. 



<'o\^ 









CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

Introduction 1-2 

CHAPTER I. 

The French Occupation — Indian Trade— Two Objects — A Win- 
ter Reeort for Gentlemen — LeSueur — Charlevoix — Fort 
Beauharnois — High Water— Fort Rebuilt — Abandoned in 
1753— Two Cannon Balls Found St. Pierre— Geo. Wash- 
inj^ton ;} J) 

CHAPTER II. 

Earliest County History— Description of Surface— Water- 
Timber — Fruits -Wheat Raisino- — Mounds — Evidence of 
Former Inhabitants 10-20 

CHAPTER III. 

Early Settlers' Experiences — Benefit of Hardships- Difficult 
Traveling—Oxen safer than Horses — Trip by water from 
Traverse des Sioux to Fort Snelling in 1851 21 ,"31 

CHAPTER IV. 

Experiences Continued — Skillful Hunters A Bear Story — 
Canoe Traveling — Dr. Sweney's Experience— A Wedding — 
Raising Potatoes — Fishing ,'?2-4G 

CHAPTER V. 

Missionary Experiences — Mission to the Indians — Journey 

from New York to Red Wing — Arrival among the Natives 

First Death of a Missionary at the Village 47-54 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER VI. 



First Impressions — S. J. Willard's First Experiences Breaking 
Up Prairie — Snake Story — C. J. F. Smitli's Experiences- 
Mosquitoes — Laying out the Road — Winter Amusements — 
An Evening Party of Young People 55-63 

CHAPTER VII. 

Trials and Triumphs of Early Settlers — Jumping Claims — 
Cold Winter — Rev. J. G. Johnson — Itinerating — Going to 
Mill — Dogs Disturb — Mr. John Stowe — (Hrls Trapping the 
Gophers — Bachelor's Hall — Making Bread — Cooking Beans — 
Hans Mattson A Pioneer Wagon -Lewis Johnson -Sleeping- 
Quarters Carrying Eggs and Butter to Market 04 73 

CHAPTER VIII. 

The Aboriotnes — Dakotas and their Language — Indian Mother's 
Lament— Speech of a Dakota Warrior —Indian Corn Fields 
— War Parties— Scalp Dance — Raw-Fish Dance — Medicine 
Feast — Healing the Sick — Courtship and Marriage — Modes 
of Burial -Spilling the Whiskey— The Wild Girl — Hawley, 
the Whiskey Seller 74-92 

CHAPTER IX. 

DAN(iER Apprehended Chippewas Coming — Council at Fort 
Snelling— Spirit Lake Massacre 93-99 

CHAPTER X. 

Political History- -County Organization —County Seat decided 
upon -First Election First Meeting of the County Com- 
missioners-Building Court House -Political Parties — 
Speeches of Hon. W. W. Phelps, Chas. McClure, and C. C. 
(Jraham -Rev. Mr. Sorin's Speech at the Indignation 
Meeting 100-118 

CHAPTER XI. 

Thk Half-Breed Tract Boundaries — Scrip Issued — Settlers' 
Rights Vindicated — Speculators Vanquished 119-124 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER XII. 



Reminiscences — Judge Wikler's Reminiscences — Practical Jokes 
—A. W. Pratt and the Bell Boys — Pig in the Fence Catch- 
ing Fish through the Ice — Prairie Chicken Hunting— John 
Jordan's Narrative~"My Boy's Pictures" 125-135 

CHAPTER XIII. 

The Civil War — Number Enlisted— Goodhue Volunteers— De- 
parture for the War — Money Raised — Two Instances of Re- 
markable Bravery — Corinth — Gettysburg — Letters from the 
Seat of War — W. Colvill — Martin Maginnis — Obituary of 
A. E. Welch — Names of Public Servants tor the State and 
County 13G-1C5 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Educational — First Schools and School Houses — Later Im- 
provements of same — Parochial School — Hamline Univer- 
sity — Collegiate Institute — Red Wing Academic and Theo- 
logical Seminary — Business Colleges — Villa Maria Convent — 
Orphans' Home — State Reform School 166-180 

CHAPTER XV. 

Red WiNci -First White Settlers— Hotel Built— Land Office- 
Newspaper— Land Sale— First Manufactory — Horsepower — 
Burning of the Steamer Galena — Gold — Petroleum — Great 
Fires 181 212 

CHAPTER XVI. 

Red Wing Continued — System of Water Works — Mills — Manu- 
factories — Furniture Companies— Stoneware -Sewer Pipe — 
Iron Foundry — Churches — Oakwood 213-234 

CHAPTER XVII. 

Red Wing Continued— Natural Advantages — Social Organisa- 
tions — Insurance — City Hospital — Beneficence — Reception 
of Distinguished Visitors- Sea Wing Disaster 235-248 



VI CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XVIII . 

Towns and Villages— 

Belvidere 249 

Belle Creek 250 

Burnside 253 

Cannon Falls 256 

Central Point 261 

Cherry Grove 266 

Featherstone 268 

Florence 270 

Goodhue 273 

Hay Creek 275 

Holden 277 

Kenyon 280 

Leon 281 

Minneola 284 

Pine Island 287 

Roscoe 290 

Stanton 292 

Vasa 294 

Wacouta 304 

Wanamingo 308 

Warsaw 316 

Welch 317 

Zumbrota 319 

Appendix 341 

In Memoriam — 

W. W. Phelps 342 

P. Sandford 343 

W. W. Sweney 344 

C. C. Graham 346 

W. W. DeKay 348 



INTRODUCTION 



Some one has said that pioneering tended to bar- 
barism. This may be true in some cases. It depends 
upon the cliaracter of those who do tlie pioneering. 

This book is mainly a history of the work of pio- 
neers. One who has seen their work and the results of 
the same, ought to be able to judge of the character of 
the principal actors. It is now between thirty and 
forty years since this county was taken possession of 
by civilized men, and many of those most interested 
and active in laying the foundations of society here 
have passed away ; but their works do follow them. It 
becomes those who now enjoy the fruits of their labors 
to imitate their virtues and preserve the memory of 
their sterling deeds. 

At a meeting of the Old Settlers' Association in Red 
Wing a few years ago, the desire was expressed by a 
leading member that a correct history of the early days 
in Goodhue county might be written. It was that 
expression that led me to undertake the collection of 
the facts and events herein recorded. I have spared 
neither time nor pains to make a record of all the 
important events that have transpired within the limits 
prescribed. How well I have succeeded, a generous 
public will determine for themselves. 

I have collected, as far as possible, the history of 
the French occupation in its relation to this locality; 

2 



2 INTRODUCTION. 

have given some account of the original inhabitants, 
who lived by hunting and fishing, and of missionary 
labors among them ; and chiefly the events connected 
with the settlement of white people ; and the subse- 
quent growth and prosperity of the county. I have 
related, to some extent, the trials and triumphs incident 
to pioneer life by facts which have been given me by 
those who experienced such trials and afterwards en- 
joyed the triumphs. I have taken extracts from the 
county records to give a brief mention of our political 
aflPairs, and the men who have labored in the public 
service from time to time ; also the part borne by our 
citizens in the late civil war — some reminiscences of 
self-denial and personal sacrifices for the preservation 
of the Union. The establishment of institutions of 
learning and religion ; reformatory and charitable en- 
terprises ; advancements in agriculture, manufacturing 
and trade which have been made, have also a place in 
this record. 

The work of the local historian, seemingly unim- 
portant, is of great value to the writers of general 
history, who must necessarily write of events which 
transpired during a former generation, of which they 
have no personal knowledge. 

To the ohl settlers who have so kindly assisted me 
by information of their personal experiences, and to all 
who have encouraged the publication of this work by 
their patronage, I hereby express my sincere thanks. 

J. W. Hancock. 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY 



CHAPTER I. 

THE FUENCH OCCUPATION. 

It is well known that the first white men who visited 
the northwestern portion of the United States were 
from France. That nation was the first to plant colonies 
in Canada along the river St. Lawrence, and they grad- 
ually pushed their explorations beyond the great lakes, 
to the head waters of the Mississippi. 

Trading with the native Indians for furs became 
a very lucrative business in the history of the French 
occupation. The traders furnished fire-arms, pow- 
der and lead to the natives in exchange for peltries. 
Being accustomed to live by hunting and fishing these 
Indians soon learned to use such articles as required 
less labor to obtain the necessaries of life, giving 
them more time for their favorite pursuit of war than 
when confined to the use of the bow and arrow. It 
was natural enough that they welcomed the traders 
to their country ; for besides the implements they 
brought for use in hunting and carrying on war with 
other tribes successfully, the traders furnished them 
with rum and tobacco, which are considered great luxu- 
ries by savage men in all climes. 



4 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

Trading posts were early established at suitable 
points throughout this fur-producing region. Though 
built of logs and roofed with sod and wild grass, there 
was a space of ground around these log-cabins inclosed 
with pickets. These posts have been named forts, and 
were sometimes called factories, for the reason that 
when fully manned, soldiers and the agents or factors 
of some mercantile house were quartered therein, and 
in some cases missionaries, each class having separate 
cabins within the enclosure. An army officer was placed 
in authority over all. 

There were three distinct objects evidently in view 
in establishing these posts, namely: To extend the 
dominion of France, to gain by trade, and to convert 
the natives. 

Two such posts were once occupied within the 
present limits of Goodhue county. The history of 
one of them, so far as I am able to find, is very short. 
It was built on the largest island between Lake Pepin 
and the mouth of the St. Croix river by LeSueur in 
1695; therefore, Prairie Island was the site. Charlevoix 
relates that the object of the establishment of this post 
was to interpose a barrier between the Dakotas and 
Chippewas, and maintain peaceful relations between 
them which had then been created. He speaks of the 
island as "having a beautiful prairie," and that "the 
French of Canada have made it a centre of commerce 
for the western parts. Many pass the winter here 
because it is a good country for hunting." From this 
account I conclude that men who were well-to-do were 
accustomed to spend their winter vacations in this 
region. 

The above named Charlevoix visited this region in 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. O 

1721 under the auspices of the Government of France, 
and upon his return to Europe urged the establishment 
of a trading post, and sending two missionaries among 
the tribe of Indians which he called "Sioux." The 
arguments he used for the establishment of such a post 
were : The missionaries to learn the language of the 
Indians and teach them religion ; and that through the 
country then occupied by this tribe a route to the 
Pacific Ocean could be discovered. His suggestions 
were favorably considered, but some delay ensued in 
carrying out the project on account of the hostility of 
other tribes occupying the country between the great 
lakes and the Mississippi valley. In 1726 a treaty with 
these latter tribes was consummated, and traders al- 
lowed to pass unmolested to the country of the Sioux. 
A company was soon formed for trading and other pur- 
poses among them. Rene Boucher was the command- 
ant of this company. Louis Ignatius Guignas and De 
Gonor were the chaplains or missionaries. They left 
Montreal on the 16th of June, 1727, and reached the 
enlargement of the Mississippi, the picturesque Lake 
Pepin, the 17th of September. The name of Pepin is 
first given to this lake in the journal of LeSueur in the 
year 1700, and was probably given in compliment to 
Stephen Pepin who Avas with LeSueur on the shores of 
Lake Superior as early as 1679. Immediately after 
arriving at this lake, Boucher selected a site upon a low 
point about the middle of the southwestern shore, 
nearly opposite the bold bluff now known as Maiden 
Rock. Here he ordered the erection of a stockade of 
pickets forming a square of one hundred feet with two 
bastions. The pickets were twelve feet long. Within 
the enclosure were a log bouse for the commandant, b, 



6 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

residence for the two missionaries, and a store house, 
all of which were completed by the last of October. 
The fort was named Bcaiiharnois, in compliment to the 
then governor of Canada. In a letter from this new 
fort. Father Guignas thus writes : " In the evening of 
November 14 we celebrated by shooting off some very 
beautiful rockets and made the air resound with a hun- 
dred shouts of 'Vive le Eoy,' and 'Vive Charles de 
Beauharnois.' That which contributed a great deal to 
the merriment was the fright of the Indians who wit- 
nessed the scene. When these poor people saw the 
fire-works in the air like stars falling from the sky, the 
women and children fled, and the more courageous of 
the men cried for mercy, begging earnestly that we 
would stop the astonishing play of the terrible fire- 
works (medicine)." 

The following spring, in the month of April, the 
water rose so high in the lake that the fort had to be 
abandoned for several weeks. In dispatches sent to 
France in October, 1729, by the Canadian Government, 
the following reference is made to Fort Beauharnois. 
They rex)ort that the fort built among the Sioux, on the 
border of Lake Pepin, is badly situated on account of 
freshets, but the Indians assure that the water rose 
higher than ever before in the spring of 1728 ; and this 
is credible, inasmuch as it did not so much as reach the 
fort this year. We learn from the records that this fort 
was rebuilt on higher ground, in rear of the first site, 
about the year 1735 with increased dimensions, but was 
soon after abandoned, as it is recorded that in view of 
the hostility of the Indians, the commandant and his 
second concluded with Father Giiignas to burn the fort 
and descend the Mississippi which they did May 13, 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 7 

1737. But it was again rebuilt ten years later. The 
records show that the Sioux Indians, through their dep- 
uties, entreated the governor of Canada to re-establish 
the post in the year 1747, which was accordingly done. 
The name of the last commandant of this post was St. 
Pierre who remained here till the summer of 1753 and 
was then called to the command of Fort Duquesne, a 
French post in western Pennsylvania. 

There is no account of the fort on Lake Pepin being 
occupied after it was abandoned by St. Pierre one hun- 
dred and thirty-eight years ago! It is no matter of 
wonder that it is now difficult to find the exact spot 
where it stood. Quite recently two cannon balls have 
been found in plowing, one of six and the other of four 
pound caliber, near Frontenac station, which have been 
deposited with the Minnesota Historical Society. These 
balls furnish additional interest to the history of the 
old fort. They were undoubtedly found by the Indians 
soon after the fort was abandoned, and buried as worth- 
less to them. 

There are a few facts relating to St. Pierre after he 
left this post, which will doubtless be interesting to the 
people of this county. It appears that he went directly 
to Montreal, arriving there in October, 1753, and on the 
third of November following, the Marquis Duquesne 
wrote to the minister of war in France that he had sent 
the Sieur de St. Pierre to succeed Marin in command of 
the army of the Ohio. 

St. Pierre did not reach the stockade at French 
Creek, which was afterward called Fort Duquesne, till 
the first week in December, and only seven days after 
his arrival there, young George Washington came, bear- 
ing a letter from Governor Dinwiddle, of Virginia, 



8 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

to the commander of the fort. After courteous treat- 
ment by St. Pierre for several clays, Washington 
was sent back with the following note to Governor 
Dinwiddle : 

Sir: — I have the honor to be here the commander-in-chief. 
M. Washington delivered to me the letter which you wrote to 
the commander of the French troops. I should have been 
pleased had you given him the order, or that he had been dis- 
posed to go to Canada to see our General, to whom it better be- 
longs than to me to set forth the evidence of the incontestable 
rights of the King, my Master, to the lands along the Ohio; and 
to refute the pretentions of the King of Great Britain thereto. 
I shall transmit your letter to M. the Marquis Duquesne. His 
reply will be law to me, and if he shall order me to communicate 
with you, you may be assured that I shall not fail to act 
promptly. 

As to the summons you send me to retire, I do not think I am 
obliged to obey. Whatever may be your instructions, I am here 
by order of my general, and I beg you not to doubt for a moment 
but that I am determined to conform with the exactness and 
resolution which becomes a good officer. I do not know that in 
the progress of this campaign anything has passed which can be 
regarded an act of hostility or contrary to the treaties between 
the two crowns, the continuation of which pleases us much as it 
does the English. If you had been pleased to enter into particu- 
lars as to the facts which caused your complaint, I should have 
been honored to give you as full and satisfactory reply as possi- 
ble. I have made it a duty to receive M, Washington with 
distinction on account of your dignity and his personal worth. 

I have the honor to be. Monsieur, your very humble and very 
obedient servant, 

L. DE St. Pierre. 

At the Fort, December 15. 1753. 

In the history of the French and Indian war, after 
Braddock's defeat, we learn that this same St. Pierre 
was fatally wounded in a battle near Lake George, 
Tvhile leading the Indian allies of the French army, 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 9 

His last words Avere: "Fight on, boys; this is Johnson, 
not Bvaddock." 

From this circumstance we learn that the last com- 
mandant of the French fort on Lake Pepin had the 
privilege of meeting George Washington a second time, 
while the latter served under General Braddock in his 
unsuccessful expedition against Fort Daquesne. 



CHAPTER 11. 

EARLIEST COUNTY HISTORY. 

Goodhue county was named in honor of James M. 
Goodhue, the pioneer editor and printer of the State. 
Minnesota was organized by act of Congress, as a Terri- 
tory of the United States, March 8, 184'.). Nine days 
from that date Mr. Goodhue had arrived in St. Paul 
with press, type, etc., ready to commence the publica- 
tion of a weekly newspaper. This paper was called The 
Minnesoia Pioneer, which he edited with marked ability 
until his early death in 1852. 

Dr. E. D. Neill, iu his History of Minnesota, thus 
describes the pioneer editor: "The editor of the Pioneer 
was unlike other men. Every action and every line he 
wrote marked great individuality. He could imitate no 
man iu his manners, nor in his style; neither could 
any man imitate him. Attempts were sometimes made 
but the failure was always very great. Impetuous as 
the whirlwind, with perceptive powers that gave to his 
mind the eye of a lynx; with a vivid imagination that 
made the very stones of Minnesota speak her praise; 
with an intellect as vigorous and elastic as a Damascus 
blade, he penned editorials which the people of this 
territory can never blot out from memory." 

The territorial legislature did well in a few years 
after his death to connect his name with one of the new 
counties. 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 11 

This county lies along the west side of tlie Missis- 
sippi river the distance of about thirty miles, which 
includes half the southwest border of Lake Pepin, and 
from Wabasha county on the south to Dakota county 
on the north. It is bounded on the east and south by 
the Mississippi river, Wabasha, Olmsted and Dodge 
counties; on the w-est, by Rice county and a part of 
Dakota county; on the north, by Dakota county. 

The surface is chiefly rolling prairie, but is divided 
by streams and lowlands which furnish excellent drain- 
age and abundance of pure water. 

The principal streams of water are: The Mississippi 
river, the Cannon river, and the north and middle 
branches of the Zumbro river. The smaller streams 
lying w^holly within the county are: Prairie creek, 
Little Cannon river. Belle creek. Spring creek, Hay 
creek and Wells creek. The water power on all the 
last named streams has been utilized to a greater or 
less extent for mills. 

Lake Pepin is a wide and deep section of the Mis- 
sissippi ; there is no other lake in the county. Numer- 
ous springs abound in all parts, furnishing constant 
supply of water for the use of the people and to till the 
streams. 

With the exception of a few drifts of sand in the 
northern part of the county, the soil is of the very best 
quality for purposes of agriculture. All, kinds of grain 
and vegetables adapted to this latitude are easily grown 
in abundance. For many years in the early history of 
this state, Goodhue was the banner county in the pro- 
duction of wheat. The raising of this cereal for some 
fifteen years after the settlement, was the chief end and 
aim of the farmer. Other crops were raised but only as 



12 HISTOEY OF GOODHUE COUNTY, 

was sufficient for home coDSumption. Wheat was the 
only product which would bring in money. From thirty 
to forty bushels per acre of the best quality was then a 
common yield. In the year 1873 the wheat buyers of 
Red Wing made the statement that they had paid out 
for wheat in the aggregate the sum of two million dol- 
lars. During the same year much wheat grown in the 
county had been sold in Cannon Falls, L^ke City and 
Hastings. The whole crop raised within the county 
that year could not have been less than three million 
bushels. From that year the chinch-bug began its 
depredations. Two other causes tended to diminish 
the amount of wheat raised about the same time, the 
price of wheat falling and the amount that could be 
raised per acre on the same land, decreasing. The wheat 
producing elements of the soil were becoming slowly 
exhausted, and a change of crops or the use of fertiliz- 
ers was found to be a necessity. Diversified farming 
has since taken the place of wheat raising alone. 

The raising of beef, mutton and pork for market; 
the improvement of stock of all kinds; and dairy farm- 
ing, are now claiming the attention of farmers generally 
throughout the county. The past two years have proved 
that wheat can be still produced here of a superior 
quality in the absence of the chinch-bugs. 

Timber for building purposes was not plenty at the 
first settlement, being found only in small groves and 
along the banks of the larger streams of water. Conse- 
quently, the lands first claimed were along the borders 
of those wooded streams. Among the forest trees more 
abundant were the red, black and burr oaks, white birch, 
maple, elm, poplar, box elder and ash. There were a 
few groves of white pine, and also black walnut and 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 



IS 



butternut trees on the Cannon and Zumbro rivers, but 
the demand for building materials was so great when 
the white settlers first came that all these finest of trees 
were soon removed. Since that time lumber for build- 
ing and manufacturing purposes has been obtained from 
the northern part of the state, and from Wisconsin. 
Where groves of maple, poplar and box elder have been 
planted for a few years on prairie farms they afford 
great protection for stock during the cold storms of 
winter, and valuable shade for protection from the heat 
of summer. These groves now surround the buildings 
of nearly all the farms in this county; many are now 
so large as to furnish the wood for the family use. 
Where twenty or thirty years ago there was nothing but 
prairie grass, may now be seen fine houses and barns 
surrounded by beautiful groves. Since annual prairie 
fires have ceased, natural groves have sprung up in un- 
cultivated portions to such extent that timber for fenc- 
ing and firewood is more plenty than formerly. 

Fruit as well as forest trees are easily grown. Apple 
orchards seem to decay after bearing abundant fruit a 
few years. This is thought to be owing to the rapid 
growth of the trees. Crab-apples, plums, grapes, goose- 
berries, strawberries and blackberries are indigenous, 
and by the aid of proper cultivation all these fruits are 
produced in abundance. 

There were settlements begun here in several places 
before the county was organized. Very soon after the 
Indian title had been extinguished by treaty in 1852, 
settlers began to come and mark off their claims. Town- 
sites were selected along the Mississippi at all points 
where it was supposed steamboats could conveniently 
make a landing. 



14 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 



James Wells, an Indian trader, had been living for 
several years on the shore of Lake Pepin. At the head 
of the same lake, George W. Bullard, another Indian 
trader, had established himself for t)ie ostensible pur- 
pose of dealing with the Indians as early as 1850. Mr. 
Wells sold his improvements and left with the removal 
of the Indians. 

Mr. Bullard remained and laid out a town around 
his trading post, naming it Wacouta. The charming 
summer retreat at the head of the lake now occupies 
the same locality, and bears the same name. 

The only Indian village witliin the limits of what is 
now Goodhue county, was Red Wing's village, the site 
now occupied by the city of Red Wing. Several fami- 
lies came and began work, anticipating a future town at 
this place, in the autumn of 1852. The first towns laid 
out along the river were Red AVing, Wacouta and Cen- 
tral Point. 

The Dakota Indians had for some time occupied the 
southern part of the now State of Minnesota, when 
the whites began to settle here. This tribe are 
often called Sioux, a name given them by their first 
traders, the French. The northern portion of the state 
had been claimed by the Chipi)e\va tribe. These tribes 
were deadly enemies to each other. For a long series 
of years, their numbers had doubtless diminished rather 
than otherwise, on account of the frequent raids made 
by war parties into each others' dominions. So abund- 
ant were fish and all kinds of game found in the country, 
that this people indulged in war as a pastime. In the 
whole tract of land now called Goodhue county, there 
was only one village of Dakotas, and the population of 
this village was about three hundred. Such small vil- 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 15 

lages, from forty to fifty miles apart, left large room for 
wild animals, and afforded ample sustenance to the few 
inhabitants, who lived chiefly by hunting and fishing. 

But there are evidences that these savage tribes had 
been preceded by a more peaceful people. A dense 
population had once occupied this part of the county; 
perhaps up to the first landing of Columbus, or a few 
years later. The numerous earthworks and mounds 
which were found here furnish these evidences. As the 
farmer's plow has nearly obliterated these mounds and 
other marks of human tribes now passed away, a de- 
scription of some, which were found in this county, will 
be given. 

These earthworks were quite numerous in the vicin- 
ity of Red Wing's village, but the Dakotas professed 
they knew nothing of their origin. When we came in 
1849 there were several mounds enclosed in the Indian 
cornfield, and the plat where West End Driving Park 
now is was pretty generally covered with them. 

Dr. W. W. Sweney, who came in 1852, made some 
investigations of these artificial remains, the results of 
which are substantially as follows: 

Evidences of the occupation of the country by a race 
of people, whose habits in some respects differed from 
the Dakotas, were numerous. On the sharp hill points 
in the vicinity of the Cannon river and Spring creek, 
were a number of cairns or stone mounds. These were 
on the highest points where shell rock outcropped and 
always overlooked the lower plateaus or valleys, on 
which were situated large groups of earthen tumuli. 
The cairns were of various sizes, ranging from six to 
twelve feet in diameter at the base. Their shape was 
conical, and some of those in the best state of preserva- 



16 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 



tion had an elevation of from eight to ten feet. The 
base was on the bare rock and all the loose stones in the 
vicinity had evidently been gathered to complete the 
structure. The first layer was in the form of a circle, 
and by inlapping towards the centre in every succeed- 
ing layer an apex was finally reached. A majority of 
these structures had fallen in, leaving a circle of 
rude masonry from three to four feet high, while the 
remains of the upper portion laid in a mass inside the 
wall, showing very conclusively they had been built 
hollow. Being very desirous of ascertaining the pur- 
pose for which they had been built, I selected two uf 
the most perfect for a minute examination. The larger 
cairn was at least twelve feet in diameter and nine feet 
high. It had settled considerably, pressing upon the 
cavity. After an hour's hard work we were in a situa- 
tion to observe the condition of its foundatiou. A 
few handfuls of black mould scattered over the bare 
rock base, a fragment of bone, three inches long, a 
muscle shell nearly in powder, and two remnants of 
wood distant from each other about six feet, in the east 
and west direction of the cairn, was all it contained. 
Of the bone there was hardly enough left to determine 
conclusively as to the species of animal to which it be- 
longed; but I think it was a portion of the upper arm- 
bone of an adult human being. When found, the 
wooden fragments were standing upright as stakes sup- 
ported by rock and were dryrotted to points. AVith a 
knife I cut ofp all the decayed wood, the centre being a 
mere splinter, but enough to distinguish it to be swamp, 
or blue oak. The other mound did not yield the same 
amount of discoveries; a little mould and traces of what 
were supposed to be decayed bones or shells was all 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 17 

that repaid our labor. I searched very thoroughly for 
teeth, as my opinion was and is that these cairns were 
burial places, but no teeth were to be found. I think 
these cairns were the burial places of distinguished 
personages. The material of which they were com- 
posed secured them against the depredations of wild 
animals. Their numbi^r, however, would lead to the 
conclusion that it was not the common mode of sepulture. 
The groups of earth mounds overlooked by these 
cairns were counted by liundreds, and I think were once 
human habitations, and if my conjectures are in the 
right direction, these isolated cemeteries could not alone 
contain the mortuary remains of as numei'ous a people 
as the evidences then to be observed indicated. These 
rock structures were found nowhere else in this county 
but on those blufPs between Hay creek and Cannon 
river, overlooking the valley of the Mississippi. And 
nowhere else in our state have 1 seen remains of a 
similar character. On breaking up the laud where 
the earth mounds existed, large quantities of broken 
pottery and muscle shells were found. The fragments 
of pottery appeared to be a combination of tenacious 
clay and pulverized shells. It had a thickness of about 
one-fourth of an inch, and on the outside were rudely 
delineated figares of men, animals, foliage and other 
objects. The representation of a weapon of war or the 
chase was not to be found; which would have been dif- 
ferent had the habits of the makers been similar to 
those of the modern Dakotas. This earthenware ap- 
peared to have been sun dried as there was no trace of 
the action of heat to redden the clay. In digging into 
several of these hillocks I have invariably found in the 
centre of the base charcoal and earth reddened by the 



l8 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

action of heat. On the Wisconsin shore, opposite Red 
Wing, there were vast numbers of mounds dotting the 
plain between the river and the bluifs. Some of these 
deviated from the regular circular form, being composed 
of a main bodj^ of an oblong shape Avith wings, resem- 
bling the prostrate form of a bird with wings out- 
stretched. 

On the farm of Charles Spates, near Cannon river, 
was the largest collection of tumuli in a given space I 
ever saw, rendering it difficult to bring the ground into 
proper shape for cultivation. I could fancy when I 
first saw this locality, on which were some throe hundred 
mounds, that a little ravine running down to the water's 
edge had been worn to that condition, by the constant 
tread of a busy multitude, and the appearance really 
indicated the fact without calling on the imagination 
to assist in forming conclusions. 

I have as yet not found the first trace of a warlike 
people in the remains above described; not even an 
arrowhead of flint, which would be imperishable. The 
Dakotas used them; but I have never seen one taken 
from a mound, or from close proximity thereto. 

These earth works have been found in all parts of 
our country, west of the Alleghany mountains, and have 
been the subject of much speculation as to their origin. 

We frequently find in books and papers the expres- 
sion, "mound builders," conveying the idea that the 
country had formerly been inhabited by a race of people 
whose occupation was to build mounds. It is my 
opiiiion that these conical hillocks, once so numerous 
on the upper Mississippi and its branches, are the sites 
of ancient towns and villages of a race who lived and 
built tl eir shelters in very much the same manner as 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 19 

our Indians did here when the white people first came 
among them. 

These mounds were always found in clusters of from 
tliirty up to hundreds in a single locality, in distances 
apart about the same as the Dakota bark houses were 
in their villages. Tiiey were generally of a uniform 
size, being al).)ut twenty feet in diameter at the base 
and rising to eight or ten feet high in the centre. 

It donbtless seems strange to some that the present 
tribes did not pretend to give account of the origin of 
tliese mounds. Bat when we consider that the different 
tribes of barbarous men were almost constantly at war 
with each other ; that whole tribes were often driven 
from their former homes, or perished by pestilence, it 
does not appear so wonderful. 

I noticed that there was seldom any depression in 
the surface of the ground immediately surrounding 
those mounds, which proves, I think, that they were not 
thrown up by human hands. When entirely removed 
it is seldom anything is found except a few traces of 
ashes at the bottom on a level with the surrounding 
ground. A partly decayed bone has sometimes been found. 

Those who have observed ihe spot where a house 
once stood and was left to rot down, the ground not 
having been disturbed for many years, will remember 
there is a depression which marks where the cellar was. 
Yet around this cellar hollow is a ridge several feet 
higher than the land adjacent. The material of the 
building, if of wood, is all decayed ; if of brick or stone, 
it is covered with earth, grass and shrubs ; and the cel- 
lar is also nearly filled. Now whence all this accumu- 
lation of earth? It is evidently the result of time and 
natural causes. 



20 HISTORY OF GOODHLtE COUNTY. 

When an old house is left to decay it soon becomes 
a ruinous heap. A thick growth of tall, rank weeds 
spring up eveiy summer. Among this luxuriant growth 
the floating sands and dry leaves of autumn are lodged 
from year to year by the driving winds. After a few 
scores of years the weeds will have run out and grass, 
shrubs or trees grow up in their ])lace. Apply this 
work to dwellings once occupied by a people who never 
have any cellars and we have a solution of the problem, 
"Whence came these mounds? 

There were occasionally found mounds of a differ- 
ent shape and size from those describetl. which were 
the remains of rude fortifications or burial places for 
the dead. 



CHAPTER III. 

EARLY settlers' EXPEKIENCES. 

There appears to be no limit to hiiraan progress. 
Its onward march is often retarded, however, by those 
who, having obtained positions of power and influence, 
begin to flatter themselves that they are the people and 
wisdom will surely die with them. A life of ease and 
luxury opposes real progress. It is a life of toil, the 
meeting of disappointments and trials, which makes for 
higher and better things. 

In recurring to the events of former days we enjoy 
the contrast between those days and the present time. 
To those who saw the laud now comprising this coun- 
ty, forty years ago, and can look upon it today, the 
contrast must be indeed gratifying. The changes that 
have been wrought, and improvements made, are simply 
wonderful. A waste, howling wilderness has become a 
fruitful field. The desert has been made to bud and 
blossom. A country which had been roamed over for 
centuries by wild beasts and a few savage men, has 
become dotted over with towns and villages, wherein 
are the homes of thousands of intelligent inhabitants, 
engaged in trade and the manufacturing of articles of 
commerce. The puffing of steam engines, the hum of 
machinery, the voices of children playing in the streets 
on their way to the school-houses, and the church-going 



22 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

bells, are heard on every side. Besides all these, and 
ot* still greater iinjiortiuce, is the progress of imi)rove- 
ment to be seeu on all the broad stretches of laud sar- 
roauding the villiges; the valleys and plains covered 
with neatly cultivated fields of growing crops, and 
green pastures wherein cattle, slieep and horses are 
grazing; the beautiful farm houses, tlie large and con- 
venient barns, surrounded by shade trees and shrubs 
bearing fruits and flowers, and also, at pro[)er intervals, 
the country churches and district school-houses. 

It is evident that such a change has not been brought 
about by magic, nor by any evolution of nature; but 
chiefly by earnest, honest labor. Through patient toil 
and the endurance of privation and snlTei-ing on the 
part of somebody, has this change come. 

The history of a county should contain the personal 
experiences of some o'- its pioneers, and we shall devote 
a few cliapters to such experiences as I have been able 
to gather, knowing that many others might be given 
which would be equally interesting liad we the means 
of obtaining them. But many of our pioneers have 
passed away from this world. We can relate tin; per- 
sonal experiences of only a few. 

The diffijulties of going from one point to another 
in a country where there are neither roads nor bridges, 
hotels nor farm houses, are among the most formidable 
that first settlers have to encounter. I started, in Sep- 
tember 1841), alt)ne on horse-back, to go from lied 
Wing's village to another Indian village on the Minne- 
sota river, to attend the annual meeting of the Dakota 
mission. I was to follow the Mississippi river up to 
the mouth of the Minne.sota river, and then the latter 
stream some eighty miles to my place of destination, 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 23 

which was near the phice now called St. Peter. 
The first day I expected to reach Kaposia, which was 
an Indian village a little below St. Paul. Dr. T. S. 
Williauidou was the missionary stationed there, and 
from that point I was to have his company the re- 
mainder of the journey. There were no human habita- 
tions between Ked Wing and Kaposia at that time. 

Tlie morning was warm and sultry on the day I set 
out. 1 was directed to follow "the trail." After fording 
Hay creek I was convinced that my horse had not been 
accustomed to follow an Indian trail. The marshy 
ground on tlie sides of the creek was rather soft for his 
weight. The grass had grown so tall that season as to 
hide the trail entirely in many places, and I found it 
the only safe way to lead my horse over the marshy 
ground. At the crossing of the Cannon river the same 
diliiculty occurred. The tall grass there reached above 
my shoulders while I sat on my horse. Where I crossed 
tliat stream it was so deep for a short distance that the 
water took in the horse except his head and a part of 
his neck. 

After reaching the high prairie between the Cannon 
and Vermillion rivers, and then crossing the latter 
without trouble, I could see a long stretch of prairie 
before me, and knowing there were no more rivers to 
cross that day I began to feel that I should reach Ka- 
posia in due time. Occasionally I could see plainly a 
mark where the Indian ponies had traveled, and tried 
to keep the same direction. But the sun was sliaded 
with clouds and a storm came on at about four o'clock. 
The thunder rolled and the lightning Hashed. Soon 
the rain fell in torrents and I could no longer see the 
trail. The prairie grass covered it. There was a grove 



24 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

apparently at some distance on the left, and I made to- 
wards it. The distance was greater than I expected, 
but I finally reached, not a grove, but a few oak trees 
scattered widely apart, affording no shelter from the 
wind and rain. I rode on. Shower followed shower; 
night came on and still it rained. Finally I reached a 
grove where the trees stood near together and were filled 
in by underbrush. It was now so dark that it was im- 
possible to go further with safety. I stood there under 
the forest through several tli under showers holding 
my horse by the bridle waiting for the morning. The 
ground was too wet to think of lying down and 1 
leaned my back against a tree and got some sleep. 
Morning dawned at last and the clouds had dispersed. 
My horse was still near me, biting the herbage. Ee- 
connoitering the ground, I found a path, and by a 
streak of light, which showed where the sun was going 
to rise, I knew the points of compass. Following the 
path in a northwesterly direction about a mile, I should 
judge, 1 came to the village of Mendota, at that time a 
trading post for the American Fur Company. There 
I was shown a trail that led to Kaposia, some five or six 
miles below on the Mississippi river. I took that trail 
and soon after arrived at the Kaposia mission. Both 
horse and rider were weary, wet and hungry; and thanks 
to missionary hospitality our wants were supplied. For 
the remainder of the trip I had the company of those 
who knew the way, and had experience in the methods 
of traveling. Many strange incidents occurred to me 
during that journey, but the trials of that first day were 
the most severe. It was the occasion of the annual 
meeting of the Dakota mission. Once a year all the 
wissionaries to that tribe vyei-e accustomed to meet for 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 25 

two or three days and consult together at one of the sta- 
tions. At this meeting at Traverse des Sioux I first 
made acquaintance witli the older uiissionaries and 
learnetl much of their methods of procedure. 

I learned afterward that oxen were more safe and 
reliable for traveling througli the country than horses. 
The Red river trade was then carried on between the 
United States and Canatla chiefly by means of oxen. 
For transportation they used two-Avheeled carts, each 
drawn by one ox. 

In the spring of 1852 I started for Lac qui Parle, the 
mission station among the Dakotas farthest distant from 
Red Wing. A young man who was engaged to go there 
to assist the missionaries accompanied me. Having 
some baggage, consisting of a small cloth tent and a fevv^ 
blankets for the night rests, some carpenter's tools, pro- 
visions for ten days, and the mail for the mission fami- 
lies at Lac qui Parle, which had been accumulating at 
Fort Snelling all winter, we loaded all into an ox cart 
and traveled in Red river style. We were nine days go- 
ing fro:n Traverse des Sioux to our destination, and no 
sign of civilization did we meet on the way. There 
were plenty of sloughs to cross, streams to ford and 
rainy days and nights to endure. Sometimes we were 
mired down in a mp.rsli. But our ox was patient. He 
could rest awhile aiul then use his strength again. Of- 
ten did we lift at the wheels to help release them from 
the mud. The rains and melting snow had raised all 
the streams to full banks and swimming was the last 
resort in order to cross some of them which in ordinary 
times could easily have been forded. We came at last 
to Avhat was then called the Chippeway river. This was 
gkirted with timber and the water was llowiug over the 



26 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

timbered bottom. We could not tell where the regular 
chaiiuel was. It seemed to be at least three-fourths of a 
mile across that valley covered by a swift rushing stream. 
We considered ways and means. Finding a tree in such 
a position as to be obtained we cut it down and con- 
structed a small raft with sections of the trunk fastened 
side by side and branches spread on the top. But this 
raft would only carry one of us at a time; it was now 
near night and after crossing this stream, it would be 
five miles to the mission and our provisions were ex- 
hausted or nearly so. My companion agreed to stay 
there with the ox and cart until another day, while I 
should go over on our raft and walk to the station where 
we could get help. I took the satchel which contained 
the mail with me and placed it upon some brush near 
the middle of the raft, and with a pole in my hands, 
standing close behind the satchel, I commenced the 
perilous A^oyage. Had some hard hits against standing 
trees for a time, and when I reached the real bed of the 
river my frail vessel was carried down stream with a 
rush. I could only use my pole like an oar, and I went 
down much faster than across, till I came to a fallen 
tree, the top of which was partly out of water. I tried 
to steer the raft around it but the current sucked me 
under and I was struck ofif into the stream, while my 
raft swung around under the tree top. I caught hold 
of the satchel and followed the raft by clinging to the 
upper branches and before it had become disentangled 
from the tree top I was on board again. I had evident- 
ly now crossed the main channel and by clinging to 
passing trees I made the opposite shore. Walking 
along up the streom till I found the track, I pursued 
my way through a storm of sleet, five miles, to the mis- 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 27 

sion, arriving sometime after dark. The next day, by 
means of a boat belonging at the station, my companion 
in travel was relieved. I remained at Lac qui Parle 
more than a week, hoping the waters would assuage, 
which was the case to some extent. 

On returning we had a yoke of oxen attached to a 
lumber wagon, for our means of conveyance as far as 
Traverse des Sioux. Mission supplies were sent up to 
that point in boats; and to convey a load of such supplies 
to the mission it was necessary for this team to go down 
at that season, which was in the early part of May. I 
was entrusted with management of the team and, as I 
had only a light load, expected to enjoy the trip. The 
distance, as then traveled, between the two stations was 
a little over one hundred mdes. No human habitation, 
not even an Indian hut to be seen all that distance. 
The streams were forded on this occasion without diffi- 
culty. Although the water would sometimes reach the 
backs of the oxen and leak into the wagon box, there 
was a solid bed for our team to walk on. Not so accom- 
modating were many of the marshes or sloughs. When 
once you broke through the turf you went down, at least 
as far as legs would reach. There seemed to be no bot- 
tom. On coming to the edge of a slough it was neces- 
sary to halt and reconnoitre. It was never safe to follow 
any former track; there the turf would be already brok- 
en. If there could be no way found to get around we 
ventured in and tried to keep the team up on an untrod 
way. But just at that season, before the new grass had 
started the olil turf was very tender and very frequently 
our team went down, so as to be obliged to wallow, until 
the wagon, (narrow-rimmed wheels) would sink to the 
bubs, when the oxen would become discouraged and the 



28 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

whole concern would cease to move. The next thing to 
do was to "rope out." A strong rope sixty or seventy 
feet long, was an indespensible article to carry coiled 
up in one corner of the wagon bos. Thanks to the 
more experienced, we were provided with one. "Un- 
loose the team from the wagon and drive them ahead 
to a piece of firm ground; fasten the rope to the end of 
the tongue and the other end to the ring of the ox-yoke. 
Now you can perhaps draw your load out of the mud." 
This was called roping out, a process Avhicli I had be- 
come pretty well accustomed to at the end of this jour- 
ufy. Once we were so completely fast that I had to un- 
yoke the team and let each ox got out l)y himself. Tlien 
I yoked them, but before I could get them to draw the 
Avagon out I was obliged to unload and carry the load- 
ing to a dry place on my shoulders. I took the wagon 
box ofP and the team drew it out first. Then uncoupled 
the wheels and by the strength of the oxen, drew each 
pair out separately. 

It took time and patience to travel in those days. If 
I remember rightly we were eleven days performing 
that trip. Sleeping under our wagon for ten nights in 
succession. I could never since consider camping out 
much of a pleasure. Traveling by canoes and steam- 
boats in those days was a more comfortable mode than 
by land. We could oidy avail ourselves of the last-named 
craft when we wisheil to go to the head of navigation on 
the Mississippi. 

For two years and a half our nearest post-office was 
Point Douglas, twenty-live miles by river from Red 
Wing. After learning how to manage a log canoe, I 
couhl go that distance in one with ])leasure. 

The missionaries on the upper Minnesota in conjuucr 



HISTOllY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. ^9 

tioii with the Indian traders, used a large boat, carrying 
several tons, for transporting their goods and supplies 
from Fort Snelling to their several stations during the 
summer. In September, 1851, I had the pleasure of a 
trip on the boat, named Winona, on its return from Tra- 
verse des Sioux to the fort.v 

It had been raining for a week or more and early in 
the morning of the day fixed upon for starting the rain 
was still pattering upontheroof of the mission house. By 
eight o'clock the storm ceased and the clouds began to 
disperse. Preparations were immediately made for em- 
barkation. By nine o'clock our party were all snugly 
packed on board the Winona, a barge of eight tons bur- 
den. The party consisted of twenty-four persons; nine- 
teen were missionaries and their children. Some were 
returning to their several stations at Shakopee, Oak 
Grove, Kaposia and Red Wing, after having attended 
the annual meeting. To complete the number there 
were two Frenchmen, employes of the traders and three 
Dakotas. For freight we had three horses, sixteen packs 
of furs and a considerable quantity of baggage belong- 
ing to one of the mission families who were on their 
way to visit friends in Ohio. When all were ready, 
farewells were exchanged with those left behind and our 
little vessel moved out upon the bosom of the charming 
river. It seemed to me that nothing on earth could 
have exceeded the variety and beauty of the scenery, by 
which we were surrounded as we glided down the "sky 
colored water." The dark rain clouds had disap{)eared 
and the golden-edged fleeces which appeared in their 
stead were moving in majesty, adorning the great arch- 
way with the richest drapery, while sheltering the trav- 
eler from the too constant heat of the sun. In conse- 



30 HISTORY OE GOODHUE COUNTY. 

quence of the great rain, the banks of the river were 
full and in many places overflowing. No ghastly forms 
of uprooted trees, no shelves of dropping mud, nor bars 
of yellow sand were visible. Every object that could 
be thought disagreeable was covered by the flowing wa- 
ters. We sailed on, in our winding course, through 
banks of living green. The willows which skirted the 
stream in abundance, bending under the force of the 
current, seemed to be bowing their heads and kissing 
the water, like things of intelligence expressing their 
gratitude for favors received. Our course for that day 
was bounded for many miles by dense forests; occasion- 
ally, however, we were gieeted by an opening meadow 
covered with tall wild grass. We had a view of nature 
unalloyed by the hand of art. Night came on at last 
and it was not considered safe to continue our journey 
in the dark. Our barge was directed to the shore and 
made fast to a stately elm. After evening prayers our 
cheerful company spread their blankets, some on the 
grassy bank, some on board the boat and laid them- 
selves down to rest. A little past midnight our rest 
was disturbed. The moon had appeared above the hor- 
izon in all its brightness. The land-sleepers were 
aroused and summoned on board, the line was hauled in 
and the boat began again to move down the bold cur- 
rent. Before sunrise we were in sight of what was then 
called "Prairieville Station," the village of the chief 
called Little Six, now Shakopee. On arriving near the 
mission house our boat was again tied to a tree and all 
accompanied Rev. Mr. Pond to his house Avhere we par- 
took of a warm breakfast, seated at a table once more. 
After tarrying at that place some two hours, having 
parted with some of our company, we re-embarked and 



HlSTORt OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 31 

wended oar way down the river. The day was fine and 
the views most enchanting. We had left the big woods 
and the country was a rolling prairie, but no human 
habitation nor caltivated fields were to be seen, until we 
came to "Oak Grove Station," or Black Dog's village. 
Here we halted and left Rev. G. H. Pond, the mission- 
ary at that station. At about three o'clock in the after- 
noon we came to Mendota, the meeting of the waters of 
Minnesota and the Mississippi. When Fort Snelling 
was descried in the distance those missionary children be- 
gan to dance for joy. Having been born in an Indian vil- 
lage, they had only seen pictures of really civilized hab- 
itations before. Who can describe the feelings of those 
children on that occasion? Oar bark was soon moored 
under the battlements of the fort and we pursued our 
way homeward by other methods of conveyance. 



CHAPTER IV. 

EXPEIIIENCES CONTINUED. 

While the Dakotas wcsre in possession we had no 
lack of wild fresh meat, but the advent of white lianters 
soon diminished the amount of game in aJl the region. 
The Indians were skillful in taking their game by 
stealth, instead of chasing it with hounds. Tliey were 
careful not to kill any more than necessary at one time. 
I have seen a Dakota go through the prairie grass on 
all fours, or rather on threes, for he held a shot-guu 
near the ground in one hand. At a few rods distance I 
should easily have taken him to be a quadruped. He 
was on the track of a deer. I have the impression that 
a fresh sirloin steak of elk or bear, killed by an Indian 
in those days was much finer than any meat i have ever 
eaten which came from the butcher. 

John Day and family were residents of Trenton, Wis- 
consin, for a time previous to theij- coming to Red Wing. 
The story we ncnv relate is told by Mr. Day, the circum- 
stances occurring while they lived at Trenton: 

While seated at breakfast one morning Mrs. Day 
called the attention of her husband to a large black ob- 
ject which at first tliey thought to be a black hog, but 
which on closer inspection proved to be a bear. Day seized 
a gun loaded with slugs and fired at the bear, but the 
slugs fell short of the mark. The bear took to the river 



HISTOKY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 33 

and made for the Minnesota shore, leaving Mr. Day 
standing disappointedly watching his movements. While 
thus engnged a splashing of the Avater near attracted 
his notice and looking in the direction he saw his wife 
coming towards him with a small skiff. As soon as she 
discovered that her husband had missed his aim and 
that the bear liad taken to the water, with a woman's 
forethought slie caught up an axe, and hurrying to the 
skiff, unmoored it, and started to the aid of her husband, 
determined that tiie bear should not escape. As soon 
as the skiff' touched the shore, Mr. Day jumped in and 
following bruin's wake, succeeded m heading him off 
and turning him towards the Wisconsin shore. When 
nearly opposite his home Mr. Day managed to get near 
enough to his game to use the axe. A short and des- 
perate struggle ensued, resulting in victory for Day. 
The bear was towed to the shore and found to weigh 
400 pounds. Mr. Day was much praised by the Indians 
for his daring and prowess. They forgot that the credit 
for the success of the adventure belonged to Mrs. Day. 
Had it not been for her forethought in taking the axe 
and canoe when she did, her husband would have stood 
there looking until the bear had crossed the river and 
made his escape. Mrs. Day was an example of the 
kind of stuff' many of Minnesota's pioneer women were 
made of. 

The Dakotas of Red Wing used log canoes for navi- 
gating the rivers. It required some skill to manage 
such a craft in the water. My first experiences in canoe 
traveling were rather ludicrous. Being at the landing 
one day when a man and boy were about to launch one 
of these vessels for a hunting excursion I asked the 
privilege of a ride with them, which was readily granted. 



34 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

As I attempted to board the thing, it slipped from me 
so quickly that I came near falliug iuto the stream. 
But the man and boy held the canoe so that I succeeded 
in the next attempt. AVe had not gone far up the stream 
keeping along near the shore, when I noticed the water 
was not very deep and having a long stick in my hand, 
which I had been using for a staff, I thought I might 
increase the speed and help the rowers. I put my stick 
over the side^ touched the bottom and gave a good push. 
The stick stuck in the muddy bottom and when I pulled 
to get it out, quick almost as lightning the boat rolled 
over and all three were ducked headforemost into the 
Water. When I regained a standing position the two 
Indians were fishing for their guns and powder horns 
from the river bottom. We soon secured all the lost 
baggage as the water was not more than three feet deep 
where the catastrophe occurred. It was fortunate for 
me that I had but little acquaintance with the language 
at that time. So the scathliug rebuke which was given 
did not arouse my indignation. Acknowledging my ig- 
norance I promised to keep still in the future and after 
wringing some of the water from our garments we em- 
barked again and finished the trip without further ac- 
cident. After this I learned very soon how to paddle 
the canoe and frequently took short journeys in one. 
The same vehicle could be, and was sometimes used for 
traveling on the land. 

On the Fourth of July, 1852, wo celebrated the day 
by an excursion down to the head of the lake, visiting 
with the trader, Mr. Bullard and family, at that place. 
The party consisted of Mr. John Bush, Indian farmer, 
his wife, myself, wife and one child. Mr. Bush consid- 
ered that it would be easier to take a team and go by 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 35 

land tliau to go ou the river. A large canoe was brought 
into requisition. The oxen were hitched to one end by 
a log-chain. We four took seats on quilts in the canoe. 
Mr. Bush driving the oxen, walked by their side. The 
wild grass being quite tall and thick the canoe glided 
along where the grou :d was level like a sleigh over the 
snow. But in many places the lautl was uneven. The 
oxen seemed in good spirits and walked rather lively. 
Frequently the canoe struck a stone or a sideling place 
and we were immediately turned out. These turnovers 
were often and gave us great merriment. We were 
thrown out at different times and found ourselves in all 
sorts of positions imaginable. Mr. Bush protested that 
he tried to find the smoothest places, but I rather sus- 
pected his honesty. AVe accomplished the trip however, 
had a good time and returned in the evening with the 
same consequences of turning over and fun. That twelve 
miles of riding in a canoe by land was the most laugh- 
able experience of my life. 

On the fifteenth day of June, 186U, W. W. Sweney, 
M. D., delivered an address in Red Wing, describing 
scenes and incidents attending the first settlement, well 
worthy of a . permanent record. I have selected from 
his address the following extracts: 

"In the spring of 1852, Calvin Potter, with whom 1 
had previously been acquainted, called at my office in 
St. Paul and informed mo that he had bought out 
Mr. Snow, a licensed Indian trader at Red Wing, and 
in view of a treaty then in process of confirmation, he 
thought that point a good location for a town site; also 
that he would like to interest some one with him in a 
claim he had there. Mr. William Freeborn, being one 
of the old residents of St. Paul and having a large ac- 



36 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

quaiutance, Mr. Potter thought, would be a desirable 
man. From my opinion of the country, acquired by 
various conversations with an old French voyager and 
also from an Englishman by birth, but in language and 
habits a compound of English, French and Indian, who 
had been in the country for tliirty years, I was more than 
anxious to take a part in the enterprise and brought 
about a speedy meeting between Mr. Potter and Mr, 
Freeborn. In our council Mr. Freeborn demuired at 
first, urging his inability to remove to the new El Dora- 
do immediately. I proposed to remove that objection 
by coming myself, to which he acceded. The result 
was that we three took the return boat and landed in 
Red Wing in the early part of May. While there I 
purchased a claim-right from a half-breed, named Benja- 
min Young, of that part of the city known as Sweney's 
addition, as also that old weather-beaten two-story log 
house, known to old settlers, that stood near the ground 
now occupied by the La Grange Mill. This done I re- 
turned to St. Paul, put my business in proper shape 
and came back to Red Wing with James McGinnis who 
concluded to try his fortune in this then unexplored 
country. We made our headquarters in the venerable 
tenement before mentioned and 'kept back.' This was 
in the latter part of May or the beginning of June. 

"As it was not advisable to go into any farming or 
building operations until the treaty was ratified, we had 
plenty of idle time on our hands and the grand difficulty 
was to know how to dispose of it. The families then 
here were the Rev. J. W. Hancock, of the Presbyterian 
mission and John Bush, Indian farmer. John Day was 
not far ofP, however. The old 'Excelsior' never made 
a trip up from below that John did not board her, to 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 37 

hear 'about the treaty.' There were several transient 
persons here whose whereabouts are uot now known. 
The only actual residents of the county previous to my 
coming, besides those above mentioned were George 
Ballard and family at Wacouta, James Wells, since 
killed by the Indians, who then had a trading post at 
what is now the village of Frontenac and a Mr. Gould 
who resided near the mouth of Wells creek with his 
family. This comprised the white population of what 
is now Goodhue coiinty. Of the county back of us even 
for four miles I could learn nothing. Mr. Knauer, the 
engineer of the old military road up the river, said he 
rode out to the source of Hay creek and that it origin- 
ated in a line tamarack marsh. It occurred to McGinnis 
and myself that a good tamarack swamp in a prairie 
country woald be a fine thing to possess, and being like 
the caged starling, anxious to get out, we just went for 
Hay creek and to our intense disgust, didn't find any 
tamarack. In an after conversation with Mr. Knauer, 
I am persuaded that not following the valley of the 
creek all the way he mistook a popular grove, known in 
early times as 'Albert's grove,' for the swamp aforesaid. 
After the disappointment about the source of Hay 
creek our trips were mainly confined to the river side 
of the county, between the divide of the waters of the 
Zumbro and Mississippi. Even Belle creek was not 
known except as its locality and course was described 
to us by an Indian. It was not deemed advisable to 
go far from the river, as many of the Indians were de- 
cidedly hostile to ceding their lands and the Zumbro 
country was the common hunting ground for several 
bands of the Mdewakantowan Dakotas, besides being 
in the traveling route of the Indians from the upper 



38 HISTORY OE GOODHUE COUNTY. 

Minnesota to Wabasha, the residence of the acknowl- 
edged head chief of the seven bands. 

"Having become acquainted with the principal men 
among the Indians, I thought it safe to bring ray fam- 
ily from St. Paul, which I did in July, 1852, as did 
also Mr. McGinnis. I liave a very lively recollection 
of getting our household stock from the landing to our 
residence. A winding rugged path up the bank was 
the course by which we conveyed it. 'Mc' and I trans- 
formed ourselves into pack mules, until stoves, bureaus, 
provisions and various etceteras of two households were 
placed under shelter and we were at home. AVithin the 
next twenty-four hours ninety-nine hundreths of the In- 
dian population had called in through curiosity, and 
their various comments would have doubtless been edi- 
fying had we been able to understand them. Friendly 
relations were established however, and we never could 
complain of lack of company as long as they remained 
in the village. I must also say in justice to these orig- 
inal settlers and occupants of tlie soil, that I was never 
more 'kindly treated by any people, nor did I ever enjoy 
myself better. 

"The treaty being ratified by the Senate of the United 
States with some alterations from the original, as framed 
by the Dakotas and commissioners, it became necessary 
to convene the different bands interested therein to get 
their consent. Notice was accordingly given them to 
meet at Fort Snelling early in the fall, in consequence 
of which a perfect exodus of the aborigines took place, 
and nothing more was seen of them here until late in 
November, after the close of navigation. When they 
did return a more squalid, wretched looking set I never 
saw. Bitter were the complaints against the govern- 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 39 

ment officials. Their annuities were spent in waiting at 
the fort. The best of the hunting season had passed, 
their canoes were frozen in the ice away from home and 
would be mainly lost. I remember well when the first in- 
stallment that came home, three families, pitched their 
tents in the evening near the mission house. They were 
worn out, cold and hungry, the children emaciated and 
sick from want and exposure. They were supplied 
by the whites with food until the men could obtain game 
for their sustenance. In the morning two of the men 
weut out hunting and as I came home in the evening 
unsuccessful from a similiar expedition on Hay creek, I 
struck their trail and in a short time overtook 
them, a little below where Cogels' tlouring mill now 
is, each of them toiling through the deep snow 
under the burden of a deer. The men seemed ex- 
hausted and requested me to stop at their teepees and 
tell the women where they were, that they had got tado 
(fresh meat) and wanted them to come to their assist- 
ance. I hurried home to communicate the joj-ful intelli- 
gence to the inmates of those three lodges. Upon reaching 
them I told one of the women the good news. She im- 
mediately shouted forth a peculiar cry which was echoed 
by all in the tent. This brought out the inhabitants of the 
other lodges. Upon being told the cause of the com- 
motion, the same shout went up from all present. The 
women rushed about for straps, knives and blankets and 
the children jumped up and down for joy. After giving 
them proper directions three Avomen started on a dog 
trot and were soon lost to view. Sometime after dark 
I called at the lodges and found them busily engaged 
in masticating large mouthfuls of venison. The cry or 
^hout mentioned I have heard frequently and it is made 



40 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

ou the occasion of the intelligence of a successful hunt. 

"The additions to our population that fall were John 
Day and family, E. C. Stevens, David Puckett, Jack 
Saunders, Ben. Hill and Charles Parks who came in 
November. The proprietors of the townsite had pro- 
cured lumber late in tlie fall for the erection of a hotel 
early in the spring and it was necessary to engage car- 
penters to prepare such material in the winter as could 
be done in the shop. H. B. and Joseph Middaugh 
were obtained and became residents of the town in De- 
cember. About this time also, the first of our Scandi- 
navian population arrived here. Mathias Peterson 
(Ringdahl,) a Norwegian by birth, and Nels Nelson, a 
Swede, who for a long time lived with me. These two 
men were the pioneers of that nationality in Goodhue 
county. Both these men formerly resided in St. 
Paul. In the spring following, Albert, a Norwegian, 
settled here and made his claim in what is now Feather- 
stone township at Albert's Grove, now embraced in the 
limits of the farm of Mr. Frenn. 

"The winter of 1852-3 was passed very pleasantly by 
our little isolated community. The natives soon left on 
their winter's hunt after their return from the treaty 
ratification at the fort and we saw but little of them un- 
til sometime in January; in fact we saw nobody but our 
own residents. Communication between us and the civ- 
ilized world was only resumed when the frost had ren- 
dered traveling safe on the Mississippi river. The mail 
was carried from Prairie du Chien through Wisconsin, 
crossing the Chippewa river near Menomonee, thence to 
Stillwater and St. Paul. When the ice was safe trains 
passed frequently from below, laden with pork and Hour. 
Our isolation was from about the middle of November 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 41 

till some time iu January. Such supplies as ran short 
were obtaiiietl of Mr. Potter, whose establishment con- 
tained those articles more especially demanded by Indian 
trade; from G. W. Bullard, at Wacouta, whose situation 
at the head of the lake rendered it necessary for him to 
keep a more extensive assortment of goods to supply the 
wants of the lumbering interests; or if these stores were 
deficient, tlien St. Paul was the last resort for the 
winter. As it is impossible to relate all I wish to say 
in chronological order I may as well give a few incidents 
connected with our county history even though out of 
their proper era. 

"On the Wisconsin side of the river, previous to the 
settlement here iu 1852, the land was ceded, surveyed 
and opened to settlement. At Diamond Bluff lived John 
and George Day, Allen Wilson and Jack Payne; at the 
mouth of theTrimbelle, 'Old H iwley,' and Jack Meade, 
at Things' landing (now Trenton) Wilson Thing, E. C. 
Stevens and Mr. Dexter, all more or less engaged in get- 
ting out wood for the use of steamboats. The two Days 
and Stevens afterwards resided in this cor.nty. 'Old 
Hawley' Avas rather a hard case. By his sale of whisky 
our community was frequently disturbed by the whoop- 
ing and yelling of drunken Indians, upon which occa- 
sions about all the natives not engaged in the spree 
would tlee to the houses of the whites for protection and 
there remain until the 'Minui Wakan' gave out and the 
legitimate results of a high old time hatl overtaken the 
carousers. Nothing is certainly known of Hawley's fate, 
but from a knowledge of his character, I would infer 
that he is at some side station or switch-off in that un- 
discovered country from whence no traveler returns. 

"In justice to truth and history I must say something 



42 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

of Wilson Thing, a very eccentric man, a strict vege- 
tarian, a man of strong prejudices, but moral and up- 
right, a good neighbor and an honest man. He was the 
only justice of the peace for many miles around and 
cousequenily had a little legal business to perform. 

"Previous to my coming here a fair widow of this 
place had entered into a marriage contract with a gen- 
tleman of St. Paul and the time was fixed for a consum- 
mation of the happy event. AVhen the tiuie arrived and 
tlie parties to the contract were present, a grand ditB- 
culty occurred. Eev. Mr. Hancock, the only one author- 
ized to solemnize marriages, was absent. The bride- 
groom was impatient and the bride annoyed. Friends 
suggested a canoe ride to Trenton and the services of 
Squire Thing as the only solution of the difficulty. Of 
course under the circumstances, the bride and bride- 
groom acceded to the proposition and in a short time 
the bridal party was under way for the residence of 
the justice. They found this worthy representative of 
the law, as enacted and promulgated by the great state 
of Wisconsin, busily engaged in the rather feminine 
occupation of washing a two months' accumulation of 
dirty shirts (he being at that time a bachelor) and he 
was somewhat embarrassed by the sudden irruption into 
his sanctum. Tlie bride, however, wos plucky, and to 
relieve the justice and give him time to make himself 
presentable and con over the marriage ceremony, she 
proposed that herself and mother would finish the laun- 
dry operations while he got ready for his part of the 
proceedings, which was accepted, and in due time both 
the shirt washing and marriage ceremony were completed 
to the satisfaction of all concerned. 

"As winter approached it was necessary for us to look 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 43 

about for a supply of vegetables for winter use, as there 
was none to be had on this side of the river. Upon in- 
quiry I found that Mr. Thing had planted four or five 
acres of potatoes, besides some beets and cabbage wliich 
latter we were able to purchase. Tlie potatoes, how- 
ever, were not to be obtained by a regular business trans- 
action of cash down. In the first place they were planted 
on the sod, that is two rounds were plowed, the pota- 
toes droj)ped in the last furrow and covered by the 
sod of the next round, and so on. The squire's field 
was the prairie between Trenton and the bluffs. The 
season was not favorable for rotting the sod and the 
tubers were hard to excavate. He wanted help which 
was hard to get. We wanted potatoes and money would 
not buy them. Consequently it Avas 'root, hog or die' 
with us and we went to rooting. A hard day's work un- 
earthed ten bushels to the man, for which one bushel 
Avas given as Avages. I have to this day a very acute ap- 
preciation of the pleasant occupation I was then engaged 
in. Just fancy my getting up at four o'clock in the 
morning, breaking my fast as soon as possible, getting 
into a canoe with my hoe, basket and sack and paddling 
up to Trenton, thence to the field. Now commence the 
dissection of those guttapercha sods with a plantation 
hoe. A little experience in another line of business en- 
abled me to get the hang of the thing. In getting hon- 
ey out of a hollow tree, the best way is to cut two carfs in- 
to the cavity, then split off the block of timber between. 
The same rule held good in the present instance, but I 
must say I never saw sod so tough, potatoes so hard to 
get at and so small when I got them. Bnt as an offset 
I have never eaten potatoes of equal excellence, and I was 
prouder of the ten bushels I thus acquired, than of the 



44 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

biggest buck I ever arrested in his wild career through 
the woods, or the largest trout I ever landed from the 
clear rushiug waters of his native brook. Just think 
of it, ten bushels all my own, no gift, not begged, but 
earned. One hundred bushels torn from the rugged 
earth, ninety given as a peace offering, but ten my own 
for use and dissipation. I tliink I didn't dissipate. On 
my back I nightly bore my wages down to my gon- 
dola and sailed away for home. 

"Among the first items of information I obtained 
from the Indians was that the small spring brooks con- 
tained an abundance of trout and the equally gratifying 
intelligence that they never used them as an article of 
food, as their religious notions tabooed their use. From 
the name they gave the speckled beauties I would infer 
they considered them too bad to eat, 'Hogan-wich- 
astasni,' literally, wicked-man- fish. They really believed 
some malign influence resided in the fish and that to 
eat them would be to invite disease and the anger of 
the gods. This feeling was very prevalent among them, 
and the chief Wacouta, being invited to take dinner 
with me at Avhich meal I informed him there would be 
a dish of trout, he consented to be present provided we 
would lock the doors, eat dinner up-stairs, hang a cur- 
tain before the wiudoAv, and sny nothing about what he 
had eaten. This was done and the old shooter made a 
very hearty meal, as Indians are apt to do, but I thought 
during the trout course, that he acted as though the 
morsels were hard to bolt, like a boy swallowing his 
first oyster. He ate frequently with me afterwards, but 
I cannot say that trout ever appeared to be a favorite 
dish with him. All the small streams within the limits 
of our county abounded with trout, with the exception 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 45 

of the Zambro, Prairie creek and the Little Cannon. 
The latter stream has since been stocked and now af- 
fords very fine sport. I only fished in four of these 
streams the first two years of my residence here, to-wit: 
Trout brook, Springcreek, Hay creek and Bullard's creek. 
The first of these being adjacent io town, was where 
1 got my supply for home use. An hour or two in the 
evening would net me eight or ten pounds of the fish. 

"In the fall of ISot^, having a fishing seine in our pos- 
session, we organized a fishing party and built the nec- 
essary craft for running a fishery. We began this en- 
terprise for the purpose of supplying our own wants. 
Meeting with great success and having nothing else to 
do, salt and barrels were procured and in a short time 
we supplied St. Paul with forty bairels of good fish at 
the remarkably low price of six dollars per barrel. Our 
fishing grounds were the bay in front of Cogel's (now 
Betcher's) mill and a lake on the AViscousin shore about 
a mile above Bay City. Large quantities were caught 
of all kinds inhabiting the river, but we only pre- 
served the best fish, rejecting pike, pickerel, bass, 
sturgeon, dogfish, sheephead and gars, while the rich, 
fat and luscious cat, bufPalo and carp were carefully 
cleaned and salted, well repaying us for our labor. At 
one haul of our seine in the lake above referred to, we 
took out over eight barrels of fish when cleaned and 
packed, l)esides an innumerable quantity of the 'baser 
sort' as before indicated. These remarks may provoke 
satirical comments from the members of a certain fish- 
ing ring, who think that the mantle of old Isaac 
Walton has fallen on them individually and that their 
palates and peculiar notions should form the standard 
of true sport and gustatory excellence. But to these I 



46 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

would say, we only wanted such fish as would repay us 
in nutriment and feed for the animal economy, when 
the mercury ranged from zero to forty below. This 
was supplied by our selection, some of the fish yielding 
over a pint of good oil. Pike, pickerel, bass and trout, 
as salt fish, are about as nutrient as fioating-island, 
puffs, pastry and gimcracks, and all are measurably 
worthless as food to strong, hearty, working men. 

"In the spring of 1853 I farmed the old Indian corn- 
field, which occupied that portion of the city now lying 
between Third and Bush streets and College bluff as far 
west as Mr. Densmore's residence, besides breaking up 
that portion lying west of the latter point and extending 
to the John Day farm. The crop was oats, corn, seven 
acres of potatoes, six of rutabagas, turnips, pumpkins, 
cabbages, beans, etc., all of which yielded largely. In 
the fall I needed help to secure the corn and potatoes, 
and there was no other resource than to hire native la- 
borers. The Indian camp was then on the Mississippi 
bottom near the mouth of Cannon river. I sent word 
to the camp that twenty women were wanted to help 
me, who should receive a barrel of potatoes for every 
four times they dug across the field. Thirteen women 
came the next morning accompanied by about two- doz- 
en dogs and as many children. The day after thirty- 
two squaws appeared with their camp kettles, sack 
straps and hoes and this number continued until the 
field was finished, having gathered for me over 1,000 
bushels of potatoes exclusive of their own wages." 



CHAPTER V. 



MISSIONARY EXPERIENCES. 



Fifty years ago the Northwest Territory, which in- 
cluded the present State of Minnesota, was little known. 
It was sparsely inhabited by wild men, who lived 
chiefly by hunting and fishing. The different tribes 
were often engaged in war with each other, which had 
a tendency to diminish their numbers. A military post 
had been established by the United States at the junc- 
tion of the St. Peters' river, as the Minnesota river was 
then called, with the Mississippi river. A few Indian 
traders and Christian missionaries' had in a few places 
raised the signals of a coming civilization. Buffalo, 
elk, bears and other wild animals had large and free 
pastures on these widely extended prairies and in the 
forests which bordered the numerous lakes and small 
streams. A stranger might then have roamed over the 
countiy for many days without seeing any signs of 
human habitation. The natives lived in huts or tents 
which were few and far between. Their villages were 
situated in covert places and consisted of a few bark 
covered huts huddled close together and these villages 
were usually fifty to a hundred miles apart. 

It was in the early part of May, 1849, that we started 
for this wild region. Our whole party consisted of my- 



48 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

self, my wife and a young babe. The evening previous 
to our departure our friends had given us a farewell 
meeting at Saratoga Springs, N. Y. We traveled by 
rail to Buffalo, thence by steamer through the lakes to 
Chicago. At that time no cars were running from Chi- 
cago further west. The constructinn of the first rail- 
road pointing towards the Mississippi had been com- 
menced. Having been informed that a horse and light 
wagon would be a great convenience at the mission and 
that it would be advisable to purchase such an outfit in 
Chicago we waited there several days in order to obtain 
them. Stages were then running from Chicago to Ga- 
lena to accommodate travelers, but we had some extra 
baggage which the stage would not accommodate. After 
some delay we obtained a horse and wagon, put all our 
luggage aboard and started for Galena. Unfortunately 
for us, it was si rainy time and the roads were in a very 
soft condition. That part of the country was then new 
and sparsely settled. Sometimes we "got stuck" in the 
mire and were obliged to go quite a distance for help. 
We gained some experience which was valuable to us 
afterwards, but the journey was a tedious one. We got 
through to Galena in the course of a week, all safe and 
well. I remember that my sleeves were pretty well 
plastered with Illinois mud, gained by frequently lift- 
ing at the wheels when we drove up at the hotel. At 
Galena we spent several days in preparation for the last 
stage of the journey, which was by a steamboat up the 
river to our destined Indian village. I purchased a 
cow, some provisions, groceries and some articles of 
furniture for house-keeping Avhile in Galena. These 
and all our other stores were taken on board the steam- 
boat "Franklin," on which we secured passage. This 



History of goodhue county. 49 

trip was a pleasant one. There were some other pas- 
sengers on the boat who were going to the new towns 
of St. Paul and Stillwater. Among others with whom 
we had formed acquaintance was Henry M. Rice, after- 
wards Senator Rice. He pointed out to us the top of 
Barn bluff while our steamer was somewhere in Lake 
Pepin, and told us that it marked the place where we 
were to land. Peculiar sensations were felt by us at 
the sight of that bold bluff' standing in the middle of 
the great valley through which our steamer was plow- 
ing its way. Bat there was not much time to indulge 
in sentiment. It was incumbent upon us to gather up 
our loose and scattered belongings that we might be 
ready for debarkation. The idea of cutting loose from 
all the enjoyments of civilized life and spending one's 
whole energies in the midst of a heathen people, seemed 
at that moment a little absurd to our fellow passengers, 
I think. We kept cheerful as possible while making 
preparations and saying good bye to our companions in 
travel. The bell rang to announce that the boat would 
soon make a short stop. As it began to draw near the 
shore strange faces began to appear. Nearly the whole 
village came down to the landing place to give us a wel- 
come. Some were fantastically dressed and oramented 
with feathers and paint, while others were almost desti- 
tute of clothing. Two pale faces soon appeared among 
the motly crowd, our former friends. Rev. J. F. Alton and 
John Bush. The boat hands made short work in dumping 
out our luggage upon the beach. But when the turn 
came for the live stock, especially the horse and cow, that 
was labor. Both those animals strongly objected to 
going ashore. The admiring crowd of men, women and 
children had no attraction for them. No coaxing could 



50 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

prevail. Human strength and skill finally accomplished 
the work. We had a long handshaking with our new 
friends who gave us a very hearty welcome. They kindly 
helped us in moving our things up to the mission house. 
The only road up the river bank seemed a sort of gulley 
through a thicket of bushes. A large tree which had 
been broken dOwn by the wind somewhat obstructed 
our way. It was about four o'clock p. m., on the 13tli of 
June when we landed and there was a slight thunder 
shower between that time and sunset, yet everything 
was safely housed before dark. 

The mission premises consisted of tAvo substantial 
log buildings a few rods in the rear of the native houses. 
The latter were built of poles covered with bark and 
stood along the river bank near where Main street now 
occupies, between Bush and Potter streets. The mis- 
sion houses were near the junction of Bush and Third 
streets. Narrow paths were crossing each other in vari- 
ous directions among the hazel bushes. There was a 
ravine just back of the mission houses in which many 
springs of cool water gushed forth, forming a small 
creek, afterwards called the Jordan, the outlet of which 
may still be seen. The mouth of this creek Avas then 
the safest harbor for canoes. Beyond the creek on ris- 
ing ground extending some sixty rods east and west, 
were the Indian corn-fields. Each family had a sepa- 
rate patch oE corn, the whole being fenced around by 
stakes and willows. Ponies and dogs being the only 
domestic animals kept in the village at the time, no 
stronger fences were needed. There was a fine meadow 
of wild grass between Soriu and Barn bluffs. AVe were 
obliged to keep our horse and cow tethered or confined 
in a rude stable. The poor cow seemed to suffer much 



SlSTOllY OF fiOODHtlE COUNTY. 51 

before being reconciled to the new home. Once she 
got away and swam the river in her friglit. We soon 
found her on the island opposite the village and with 
the aid of a canoe brought her home. Some time passed 
before she could understand, seemingly, that the evil 
one did not wear a blanket. 

Some privations were suiBPered by being cut off from 
the rest of the world. Our nearest post-office was 
twenty-five miles up the river. From thence we re- 
ceived our mail by going or sending for it by canoe. 
Three or four weeks often elapsed without news from 
the outside world. However, there were some things 
to balance the disagreeable. Plenty of work studying a 
new language, trying to teach the children and talking 
with the older people. The assessor did not trouble 
us. For about five years we had no special taxes to 
pay. For the use of a garden spot we paid the natives 
in vegetables. The single tax theory was then in prac- 
tice at this point. 

The first white person known to have been buried 
within the limits of this county was the dear wife who 
accompanied me hither from our eastern home and 
shared in the labors and privations of the situation for 
the first two years. She was a daughter of New Eng- 
land and of Puritan stock. We were joined in mar- 
riage at her father's house in Worcester county, Mass., 
in 1846. I was at that time a school teacher at Sara- 
toga Springs, N. Y., where we commenced house-keep- 
ing and lived about three years. In the latter part of 
the year 1848 we received the appointment to go and 
labor among the Dakotas west of the Mississippi river. 
For several reasons we did not start for the west till the 
following spring. The health of my wife seemed great- 



52 HISTOEY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

ly improved for a time after our arrival at Eed Wing's 
village. She entered upon the task of acquiring a 
knowledge of the Dakota language Avith great zeal. She 
attracted the attention of the Indian children, taught 
the girls knitting and sewing and soon had three of 
them washed and dressed like white folks, living in the 
family with us. But I think she labored beyond what 
her strength could endure. In the autumn of 1850 her 
health began to decline and she gradually Avasted aAvay 
till death came to her relief on the 21st day of March, 
1851. We had the kind services of the good Dr. Wil- 
liamson, who came down from Kaposia often during her 
last sickness, doing everything in his power to helP 
restore her to health The doctor's sister. Miss Jane 
Williamson, also came and remained with us dur- 
ing the last months of the sick one and ministered to 
her necessities. But the call had come from heaven 
and she yielded Avith a firm trust in Him who is 
the Resurrection and the Life. In a notice of her 
death in an eastern paper it was stated that she 
was one who never sought great things for her- 
self, but spent her active life in doing good, in such 
ways and by such means, as showed that she labored 
not to win praise. I Avill add here what another Avriter 
has recorded concerning her: "At the beginning of 
life's young dream, this estimable woman left her east- 
ern home, parents, friends, all that Avas dear to her girl- 
hood's memory, to labor as a missionary of the cross 
among the untutored children of the forest; in fact to 
liA^e and die among a heathen people." If an artist had 
desired a model to picture a true heroine, if a poet or 
novelist had desired a character to represent a brave 
and fearless, yet modest and unassuming chief of hero- 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 53 

ines, they might have secured that model and that char- 
acter, when with her husband, the subject of this sketch, 
landed at Red Wing's village where she was at once 
surrounded by several hundred savages who were hence- 
forth to be her principal society associates. She was 
not to be molded to their habits and customs, but they 
were to be educated and emancipated from the errors and 
superstitions, habits and customs, of many generations 
and brought to see and walk the better way. What a 
courage she displayed! Weak, yet strong; bold, yet 
modest and shrinking. Bravely she met and engaged 
in her work. Faithfully did she discharge every duty; 
carrying the presence of the Master wherever she went, 
until the Father above called. Enough, come up higher. 
At her own request she was buried on Indian ground, 
beneath the shadows of the towering bluff at whose base 
her life had gone out, and where the wild flowers grew 
and bloomed in pristine beauty, when the spring times 
and summers came. Just before her death, when all 
knew that she must go, her husband asked her if she 
desired to have her earthly remains taken back to the 
home of her childhood for sepulture. She answered, 
"No, I came to live among this people and help teach 
them there was a life after death, the spirit was immor- 
tal, that it mattered little what became of the body, 
the spirit would return to God who gave it. Bury me 
here, that our people may see, and realize our belief in 
the truths we have sought to teach them." AVhen her 
free spirit had winged its Hight to where angels dwell, 
a grave was prepared near the mission house, into 
which, after the \isual Christian ceremony, performed 
by Dr. Williamson, her mortal remains were lowered 
by kindly hands. As the group of Dakotas stood 



54 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

around the open receptacle of the dead, more than one 
tall savage was seen to weep over the departure of one 
they had learned to love, and whom they called, "Wash- 
tay ween" — the good woman. 

When a more advanced civilization came to found 
a city on the site of this Indian village aud the ground 
was wanted for business blocks, a city for the dead was 
platted on the summit of a southern bluff overlooking 
the place, to which her remains were removed, and 
there in our beautiful Oakwood cemetery, may be seen 
a marble slab to indicate her last resting place on earth. 
The following lines composed by a dear friend are 
carved upon the stone which has been erected to her 
memory : 

The mother, sister, wife and friend. 
Has passed away. Far from her early home, 

In sorrow and in tears, the precious dust 
We lay to rest in hope, until the tones 

Of the archangel's trump announce the dawn 
Of brighter day. 



CHAPTER VI. 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS. 

The Old Settlers' Association held a meeting in 
March, 1882, in the city of Red Wing, and listened to a 
very interesting address delivered by Swante J. Willard, 
whose name appears frequently in connection with the 
early settlement of the town of Vasa. 

Mr. Willard was elected county auditor in 1864 and 
continued to hold that office by succeeding elections six- 
teen years. He is at present the City Clerk of the city 
of Red Wing, an able and efficient officer to whose serv- 
ices the present prosperity of the city is in a measure 
attributed. 

Some items of his experience daring the first years 
of his life in this county are here given, taken from the 
address above mentioned. 

"After our arrival from Sweden we came to Moline, 
Illinois. From thence, on a trip up the Mississippi to 
St. Paul, our boat made a stop at Red Wing. The sin- 
gular formation of the hill, (Barn bluff) attracted my 
attention. I knew not even the name of the place. I 
said to our company that I would like to settle there on 
account of its singular beauty and attractiveness. I 
then for the first time saw Indians. At St. Paul I met 
Peter Green and Abraham Peterson who had been in 
the country about a year. I learned soon after that a 



56 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

committee of our countrymen, having visited Red Wing 
and vicinity, strougly recommended the place as the de- 
sirable one for settlement. I came with my family in 
the fall of 1853. Leaving my family in Red Wing I 
went with Mattson to Spring Creek valley, thence on 
to where Roos and Kemp had begun to build but had 
not fiuished their house. They were camping in a tent 
near by. Mattson and I stopped over night with them. 
We heard the most hideous music of prairie wolves. 
Mr. Kemp being of rather nervous temperament, was 
disturbed by their close promixity. Several times he 
awakened Mr. Roos and whispered, Roos, Roos, they 
are trying to dig under the tent ! Mr. Roos being a 
good deal of a stoic finally blurted out, 'Let the wolves 
howl; they have not woiked as hard as I have during 
the day, or they would be willing to be quiet.' 

"The next morning I selected and marked off my 
claim. One peculiarity about making claims: As the 
new settler could not carry surveying instruments, it 
was customary to pace out the lines and distances, 
which almost invariably resulted in large quarter sec- 
tions. 1 was somewhat surprised to find by the govern- 
ment survey the next year, the claim I had paced off for 
my quarter section, held land enough for about two 
more. But foreigners have a faculty for profiting from 
the examples of others, and we have observed that our 
American friends selected those who Avere capable of 
taking long strides to do their measuring. 

"Red Wing was then in its infancy. As is well 
known, it had been a mission station. The houses were 
few and as near as I can recollect as follows: An old 
log house occupied by Dr. Sweney; Calvin Potter lived 
jn a house near the river, one room of which was used 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 57 

as a store, where he kept Indian goods; Warren Hunt 
lived in a small new frame house a little in the rear of 
Potter's; James Akers in another small frame house 
further Avest, or beyond Jordan; Wm. Freeborn had 
built a good two-story frame house which stood near 
the spot now occupied by the La Grange mills; the 
Red Wing house, afterwards 'Teepetonka,' a good sized 
hotel and two log houses, formerly used by the first mis- 
sionaries to the Indians here; Rev. M. Sorin was then 
building a house on what is now called the McSorley 
block and John Day had a log house nearly as far west 
as the stoneware factories. Mattson and myself en- 
gaged the following winter to chop wood for Mr. Free- 
born. It was a new life for us to be out in the forest. 
Our house was a shanty 10x12 and combined sleeping 
apartments, dining hall, parlor and kitchen, circum- 
stances common to all in those days. We were con- 
tented with a great deal less than is now deemed nec- 
essary. During our stay at this place Indians often 
visited us, but we were seldom annoyed or frightened 
by their presence. Their canoes were often moored on 
the river near ns. One day Mattson and I resolved 
to try our skill in one, but like many a bark on the 
financial sea, it upset a few rods from shore, and as 
we succeeded in reaching dry land we concluded to 
leave the Indian to paddle his own canoe. AVe left the 
wood chopping early in March, 1854, and moved out to 
our claims. Having built our house of logs we moved in 
and considered ourselves established as regular farmers. 
After a few week's labor, our provisions, which we had 
brought with us, gave out and Mr. Mattson went to Red 
Wing to procure more. No steamboat having yet come 
up the river, he found scarcity prevailed in town. 



58 . HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY, 

There were no provisions for sale, and Mattson re- 
mained in town waiting for the arrival of a boat. Dur- 
ing his absence on this occasion, I and my little family 
experienced the hardest privation of our lives. For 
nine days we had only white beans, excepting one day I 
shot a few blackbirds. Before cnr stock of beans was 
exhausted Mattson returned with provisions. During 
that year several more families arrived in Vasa. Carl 
Carlson, Gustaf Carlson, Peter Nelson, Nels Peterson, 
Erick Erickson, and Samuel Johnson. 

"In the summer of 1856 we ran a breaking team. I 
managed the plow with Frank Carlson for driver. AVe 
were breaking for a man in Spring Creek valley, who, 
on account of bis anxiety to have us plow deep, used to 
follow the plow and weigh down the beam. One day 
we turned up a large snake, over six feet long, which 
was evidently as much disturbed as we were and in try- 
ing to escape chose as a retreat the pants of our em- 
ployer, who, fearfully frightened, yelled, kicked and 
almost fainted. I jerked the snake out and killed it. 
This cured him from riding on the plow beam. If my 
team could not appreciate that snake's appearance, I 
could and did." 

The following extracts from C. J. F. Smith's address 
before the Old Settlers' Association will 1)0 of interest 
in this connection : 

"In the month of June, 1854, I first set foot in 
Red Wing. I took dinner at the Red Wing house, then 
kept by Andrus Duraml. The most striking feature of 
Red Wing was then, as it is now, to one approaching 
the place on a steamer, tlie bold isolated Barn bluff. 
About the only things I remember doing on my first 
visit were: First, to climb the to summit of that bluff right 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 59 

up its precipitous nose aud take a view of the extended 
landscape, the winding river skirted with timber, the 
plateaus and bluffs in the distance, al] together making 
an enchanting picture. 

"The next thing I did was to purchase about tAvo, or 
it may have been twelve, acres of land. The said land 
was described as being on the side of Sorin bluff and 
pointed out to me by a Avave of the hand while standing 
on Bush street near the Eed Wing hotel, said descrip- 
tion being ap})arently satisfactory to the purchaser, 
who was bound to make an investment in the laud of 
promise. Suffice it to say, I have never heard where 
that laud lay, or that the seller had as much as the 
'shadow of a title.' Yet there is no doubt of land being 
there on the sides of that bluff. 

"On my next visit I came to stay — on the 3d of July 
the same year, having on board the steamboat from 
St. Louis a small stock of merchandise, which I per- 
suaded the captain to leave on the upper side of the 
Jordan, the usual landing ^being a few rods below. A 
large number of the inhabitants Hocked down to the 
river as the boat drew to the shore. The goods were 
put into an unfinished store which stood at the foot of 
Broad street near the ground now occcupied by the Mil- 
waukee depot. The doors not being yet hung I staid 
with the stuff that night, which was perhaps altogether 
unnecessary, as everybody was imbued with primitive 
honesty in those days. In fact everybody was bent on 
making money faster and easier than by stealing. The 
experience of that first night will never fade from my 
memory. I had no sooner composed my head for the 
enjoyment of sleep on a pile of mattresses than a whole 
battalion of mosquitoes presented their bills in fierce 



60 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

battle array, accompaniecl with wierd strains of masic, 
which awoke me to the necessity of immediate fortifica- 
tion. So I surrounded my couch with inverted chairs, 
barrels and boxes, spreading over the whole a web of 
mosquito netting. I then crawled into ray barrack, but 
my hope of safety was soon dispelled. My attempts at 
self-defense seemed to increase the energy and fierce- 
ness of the assailants; and if only a few found their way 
in, the hungry cry of the ten thousand without, and the 
possibility of all soon following the suit, forced me to 
arise, and grasping the netting scatter their ranks for a 
few moments. But the same attack and counter attack 
were enacted over and over during that longest of long 
nights; and I wonder to this day whether or no all the 
mosquitoes in the neighborhood were not notified that 
a fresh subject had arrived in town that day. 

"Our communication with the rest of the world was 
by the Mississippi river in the summer, but in the 
winter this means was cut off most effectually by the 
ice. True, there was a post route by the river valley, 
but the mail was cariied by a one horse train. The 
great mail route from St. Paul to Galena passed 
through Oronoco, out back from the river some twenty 
or thirty miles. Hence the necessity arose for a better 
road, or rather some definite roadway should be made 
passable for teams to various points in the interior? 
which then were tributary to Red Wing for steamboat 
landing. To secure this desirable result a party was 
formed consisting of Wm. Colvill, Jr., wiio has since 
been the hero of more dangerous expeditions, T. J. 
Smith, Spencer Fellows, and one or two others, with 
myself, and a Mr. Hunt, a teamster. The only way out 
of B,ed Wing to the back country was then by the street 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 



6l 



now called Central avenue, and between the Twin blufPs. 
This was the starting point for Oronoco, Featherstone, 
Cannon Falls, Faribault, Owatonna and other places 
then known. 

"Our object in this expedition was to find the shortest 
practicable route to Oronoco, including a place to ford the 
north branch of the Iliver Zumbro. We were to be met 
by another party from the other eud of the route, sup- 
posed to be as much interested as ourselves. About 
six miles out we struck the bend in Hay creek, and some 
five miles beyond on the prairie we passed a large burr 
oak tree, and not far from it a kind of basin, which 
seemed to be a receptacle for the surface water. These 
landmarks have since been obliterated to some extent. 

"Tha first night we encamped on a little level spot of 
prairie near the banks of the Zumbro. On the opposite 
bank from our camp was an extensive piece of woods 
which came down to the border of the river. 

"This ford was somewhere betAveen the two places 
since settled and named Zumbrota and Mazeppa. We 
drove the pins to our tent in a drenching rain and 
thunder storm. Our beds that night not being condu- 
cive to sleep we had an early breakfast. While some 
were employed in grading the banks of the stream 
others crossed and make an attack on such trees in the 
woods as would interfere with the passage of a team. 
We spent several days in clearing a way through these 
woods. Returning to Hay creek on Friday we put up 
our tent near the bend. This creek had not then been 
fished dry of trout, and as Mr. Colvill took more to tiie 
department of commissary and cook than the hand- 
ling of axe, shovel or crowbar, he supplied us with a 
nice mess of speckled trout for dinner, while the rest 



6^ HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

of the party worked with a will upon the ravines that 
led down to the creek. We tented on that spot for the 
night followiug. My ardent fiiends, the mosquitoes, 
were plentiful and hungry. Choosiog the least of two 
evils, we provided a smudge in an iron kettle and tried 
sleeping in a smoke house. It was not loug before a 
suspicious smell of burnt leather greeted us and aroused 
us to the fact that we Avere in danger of a conflagration. 
One rushed out of the tent with the kettle, and on ex- 
amination we found a hole burned in one of the bufPalo 
robes about the size of the bottom of the kettle. 

"Saturday noon fouud us within fifteen minutes reach 
of a dinner at Red Wing's first-class hotel. But the 
romance of the trip still lingered with us till Ave had 
finished up the last delicacies of piairie chicken and 
trout under some shady oaks near the base of Twin 
blufPs. Those oaks have been since cut down by some 
utilitarian hand, Avho had no respect for the spot of the 
last dinner of that road improvement party from Red 
Wing. 

"Some later settlers may Avish to kuoAV Avhat Ave 
found to do during the long winters and winter even- 
ings, cut off as we were from the rest of the Avorld. 
We had lyceums, lectures and a literary society paper, 
instead of the opera. We had regular church sei vices, 
singing schools, and occasional merry makings. The 
young folks enjoyed sleigh rid( s in primitive style. I 
will give a short account of one. 

"Early in the spring of 18^5, as the snoAV Avas fast 
melting aAvay, one afternoon, we thought it Avould be 
the last chance of the season for a sleigh ride, so a 
party Avas arranged for that evening and the girls in- 
vited. A sleighing party then meant a lot of girls and 



MlSTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 63 

boys piled iuto a lumber wagon box placed on runners. 
But in this case, before it was time to start, it com- 
menced to rain and we spent some time in deciding 
whether t) go on runners or wheels, or whether to go 
at all. Finally we decided to go on wheels, and by the 
time we had got the box back on the wheels and driven 
around and collected our load, it was nine o'clock and 
pitch dark. Dr. F. F. Hoyt and his brother Frank 
were holding a claim and occupying a shanty near where 
Mr. Danforth now lives on the road to the county poor 
farm. Dr. William Brown and W. S. Grow were living 
with their families in shanties three-fourths of a mile 
beyond. The party were destined for Mr. Grow's. We 
had Rev. Mr. Sorin's team and his hired man for driver. 
Coming to Hay creek bottom, we fonnd the road and 
bridges submerged with at least a foot of water; we 
crossed one bridge safely, but when we got to where 
the other one ought to be, we could not find it and our 
driver refused to go a step further. To go forward to 
be sure was presumptuous, to attempt to turn around 
on that narrow pike was pretty certain to spill us all 
out into the overflowing stream; so we sat there coax- 
ing and threatening until at last the driver was induced 
to move on. We got safely over, went on calling at the 
Hoyt shanty, routed the boys up and took them aboard. 
AVhen we got to Mr. Grow's and Brown's both families 
had retired, but after all our troubles we could not be 
cheated out of the expected social enjoyment. So they 
were all routed out and seemed to enjoy the fun as well 
as we, until the wee small hours came on, and the light 
of the moon sent us home." 



CHAPTER VII. 

TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS OF EARLY SETTLERS. 

Among the hardships to which our early settlers 
were exposed, especially those who came to cultivate the 
soil, not the least, by any means, was that which enabled 
them to gain a recognized title to a quarter section of 
land. Townsites were occupied before farming began. 
Before the laud was surveyed and offered for sale by 
the government, no title could be obtained except that 
of being the first claimant. It frequently happened 
that when a man and his family arrived with their goods 
and chattels, and, iinding a suitable tract of unoccupied 
land, began to build a shelter, a prior claimant would 
appear and order them to leave. The prior claimant 
could show his name marked upon some tree or stake, 
and if the family retused to obey his order within 
twenty-four hours, a company of fifteen or twenty men 
armed with clabs, axes, and hammers, would appear 
upon the scene. The new settler had to take his choice 
either to abandon the claim immediately, or pay the 
lirrit claimant a sum of money, generally $50 or $100. 
This in many cases was a real hardship, greatly reduc- 
ing the funds necessary for the subsistence of the 
family until the first crop could be raised upon the farm. 
A large number of farmers who came in the summer of 
1854 and spring of the year 1855 were subjected to this 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 65 

annoyance. Occasionally, however, the bona fide settler 
was able to maintain his rights. Mr. C. C. Webster 
relates a case, which occurred near the village of Zum- 
brota, as follows: 

"Several of the first settlers, members of the ( town- 
site) company, had not only selected claims for them- 
selves, but as they claimed, for their friends. The 
proxy claims were for a time respected. Outsiders, 
however, soon found out about them. One day a load 
of lumber came in sight from Mazeppa. It was watched 
with curiosity. Presently it was unloaded on a claim 
which had been selected by Dr. Perry for a friend of 
his, and in a brief time a shanty was erected. This was 
considered a bold invasion upon the rights of the set- 
tlement. Next morning, at daylight, some twenty of us, 
armed with axes, clubs, etc., resolved to expel the in- 
vaders. Upon reaching the shanty a call for surrender 
was made and in a few moments the shanty was leveled 
to the ground. There was no one inside. A shout 
rang through the valley and the valiant heroes retired. 
During the day the fellow whose shanty had been de- 
molished appeared upon the scene. At a distance he 
looked somewhat disconsolate and we fancied he would 
disappear and not return. Not so, however. The next 
day he returned with some companions. They seemed 
to carry something wliich looked very much like shot- 
guns. The shanty \vas not again disturbed. We thought 
it best to bottle up our wrath, and not take any 
chances." 

Exposure to the extreme cold of the winters was 
another very common trial. Mr. Nelson, of Wanamingo, 
relates the story of a man who stayed over night with 
him in the winter of 1855, on his way to Oronoco, 01m- 

6 



66 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

stead county. The man started for his destination early 
the next morning with a yoke of oxen. The third day 
after, he drove his team into Mr. Nelson's yard again, 
having wandered three days and two nights on the open 
prairie in a snow storm. His feet and hands were 
badly frozen. There was a stage road running north 
and south through the county at an early day, called 
the St. Paul and Dubuque road. A party from Red Wing 
surveyed a branch road to connect with this in 1855. 
These and the old military road along the river were 
the only established highways in the county for some 
years. Consequently, the settlers were accustomed to 
take the shortest and easiest route toward any point 
where business or pleasure led them. No one was 
obliged to follow another's track if he thought he could 
find a better. So there were roads and roads, and it 
puzzled one to cross an uninhabited reach of prairie 
without wandering. It was really dangerous in the 
stormy season of Avinter to venture far from home. 
There were many cases of persons being lost within a 
few miles of their own home, and several perished by 
freezing while being thus lost. 

Rev. J. G. Johnson says: "I built a claim house 
lGx23 in the town now called Biirnside, commencing it 
in January, 1855, and moving into it in Augi.st follow- 
ing. I found out that na-ked nature needed more cloth- 
ing than a new born child; first a hen-roost, then a 
pig-sty, a stable, stack-yard, corn-yard, a forty acre past- 
ure, one hundred acres encircled with a wooden fence, 
breaking costing five dollars an acre, school houses to 
be built, cemeteries laid out and enclosed, bridges 
everywhere to be built; highways surveyed and worked. 
The Avinter of 1855-0 was a rough winter. As a mem- 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 67 

ber of tho Minnesota Mothodist Conference I was try- 
ing to supply the work of preaching at a point five 
miles above Hastings in the forenoon, at Hastings two 
o'clock p. m., and at Ravenna, seven miles below, at 
"caudle light." Late in the fall, one of the darkest and 
most stormy nights known to men overtook me on the 
open prairie below Hastings. The only way to find 
the path and keep it, was to feel it out with the feet. 
After a while a distant light appeared in view, and 
thoroughly drenched I soon found shelter in a small 
house occupied by two families. Bat the poor pony 
had no shelter and scant feed. 

•'One Monday morning of that winter, in trying to 
get home from my appointment, a blizzard commenced 
raging. Scarcely any travel on the road except one 
stage through. About forty degrees below zero of 
cold came on. The wife and two little children at 
home alone. Neighbors few and far between. Stern 
necessity says, You must get home; but that open bleak 
prairie in the town of AVelch, then unoccupied, was a 
precarious place for night to close in upon a wayfaring 
man with a dubious track to follow. Yet at about nine 
o'clock in the evening we were all made unusually glad 
that the storm had been weathered, and the harbor 
safely reached. 

"In the summer of 1850 I raised two acres of wheat. 
Thirty miles away at Northtield there was a mill. With 
a one-horse load I reached it at sundown to find the 
mill full of grists; the water too low to run on full time. 
The only chance was to exchange a few bushels of my 
wheat for flour, receiving thirty pounds for each l)ushel. 
The rest of my grist I brought back as far as Cannon 
Falls and left to be ground without bolting. Winter 



68 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

soon came on and no roads opened on my route thither. 
I found my wheat, which was left there, the next spring, 
musty. My next milling was done at Kinnikiunick, eight 
miles beyond Prescott, Wis., a four days' journey going 
around through Cannon Falls and Hastings. 

"The early settlers Avanted church privileges. A 
meeting was held at the house of Mr. More, near Can- 
non river bridge, in Burnside. More had an awfal 
poor house. He had also the inflammatory rheuma- 
tism. He lay flat on his back on the loose boards of 
the only floor except bare ground. The peoi)le had 
brought all their young dogs to the meeting. In the 
midst of services the dogs became unseemly uncere- 
monious. More evidently felt his responsibility for 
better order and rising with difficulty, in apparent 
wrath, he took his own dog by the neck, dragged him 
to the door and with a toss and a kick sent him yelping 
out. At that all the dogs rushed in sympathy oat, and 
the man took liis lowly place again. All reverence and 
devotion fled, and appointment was not renewed at that 
place. 

"We had frequent visits from the Sioux Indians 
who often killed deer in the neighborhood. On one oc- 
casion three of these animals were shot by an Indian 
without moving from his secluded position. Tliis oc- 
curred near where T. J. Bryan's house now stands. 

"Oar women, although alone generally through the 
day, were not disturbed in these early years by the 
visits of the red men." 

Mr. John Stowe, one of the early settlers of the town 
of Goodhue, relates that he began farming under dis- 
advantages which were common at the time. He had 
no team at first. Worked for a neiglibor to pay for 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 69 

the breaking of a few acres on bis claim. He planted 
corn on the sod which had been broken. One day, 
when he had nearly finished planting, he noticed that 
a striped gopher was following him. On examination . 
of the premises he found that his corn was being taken 
out of the ground before it sprouted. He soon com- 
menced trapping. He had two daughters, who w^ere 
just old enough to enjoy such sport. They soon caught 
over one hundred of the little thieves. Finding them 
very fat they extracted from them oil enough to furnish 
the family light for the next winter. Notwithstanding 
the success of the girls in hunting, Mr. Stowe was 
obliged to plant his corn field over the second time. 

A bachelor's hall — "what a queer looking place it 
is!" 

Young men while pre-empting and improving their 
claims were often obliged to do their own house-work. 
The mistakes made in cooking were sometimes amus- 
ing. A number whose claims were in the same neigh- 
borhood often took their meals together, each furnish- 
ing a portion of the raw material and doing his share 
of the cooking. It was at one of these club boarding 
houses that some corn meal was brought, and a desire 
expressed to have a Yankee hasty pudding that very 
day. The appointed cook filled his kettle partly with 
cold water and dropping in the meal slowly by hand- 
f uls, stirring together until the mixture was about the 
usual puddiug consistency. Then he started his fire 
beneath and brought the mixture as quickly as possible 
to a boiling point. This last process he considered 
essential. It was served hot, each guest sweetening it 
with molasses to his taste. But every one was soon 
satisfied with his first plate of that hasty pudding. It 



70 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

did not taste natural. What was left was jriven to the 
dog. The dog was hungry and ate it up. That dog 
left the shanty that afternoon and was never seen there 
again. His owner insisted that the pudding had killed 
his dog. The usual process in making bread from 
wheateu flour was by mixing the flour with water, knead- 
ing the same with the hands, and bakiug in the stove 
oven. One who came later to this boarding establish- 
ment expressed his desire to improve on that kind of 
bread. He was allowed the privilege of trying his 
hand. He knew how his mother made salt-rising bread 
and following her example produced an article that 
was pro.iounced good. This man was installed chief 
cook of the shanty from that time. Bat it proved after- 
ward that even he was not familiar with all the branches 
of the culinary art. Some one furnished, for the sake 
of variety, a small sack of beans. He knew that his 
mother used to boil them for awhile then bake in the 
oven. He placed in the pot what he thought a sufficient 
quantity of beaas for the guests for one meal. Before 
the pot began to boil, he found the beans were crowd- 
ing one another up and over the rim. He hastened for 
another vessel and divided the mess. Yet the quantity 
of beans kept on multiplying. He had no thought of 
beans swelling so. It was necessary to obtain another 
vessel and all three were filled when the boiling was 
ended. He had cooked beans enough to last the house 
several days. He learned some things by experi- 
ence. 

A wagon used by some of the first immigrants to 
this county is thus described by Col. Matson: 

"AVhen, in the spring of 185-i, Willard and myself 
received a pair of three-year-old steers and a cow from 



HISTOLY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 71 

my father, we could get do other wagon than a truck 
with wheels made of four inch thick oak cylinders 
sawed oti* a log. A good wagon was made in this way. 
The wheels were only about twenty inches in diameter. 
Hence I had great trouble in getting over the stumps 
between John Day's ravine and Hay creek. The road 
was about where the Milwaukee railroad track is now. 
I often had to lift one end of the axle, to straddle the 
stump, one axle at a time of course, and as the steers 
were wild, and my assistants always newly arrived emi- 
grants, who did not understand how to conciliate our 
steers by forcible English, I often had great trouble. 
The wagon was stronger than the steers, however, and 
that helped me. On that truck or wagon I carted out 
the goods and supplies for all the immigrants that 
arrived in Vasa township that year." 

Mr. Lewis Johnson, a well known and successful 
farmer iu the town of Goodhue, relates tlie following 
account of his early experience: 

"In the first part of the year 1857, when the town- 
ship of Goodhue was settled by few, and these far be- 
tween, I located a piece of land for a home. The snow 
was then more than a foot deep on the prairie. We re- 
moved the snow and dug a hole in the ground, about 
6k.S feet, which was intended for a future cellar. There 
we placed some bedding and covered the hole with 
boards. My father, my brother and myself, all used 
that apartment for our sleeping room, while we were 
building our first house, a building 12x16, which served 
as our family residence for niany years. Thus we began 
our pioneer life like many others in those days, without 
any other means of support, except good health and a 
willingness to work '^for anything and at anything as 



72 HISTOEY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

opportunity presented itself, until success crowned the 
efforts put forth." 

Another who was born in Germany and came to j 
this country in 1840, at the age of fifteen, relates the^^^ 
following experiences: 'V^^' 

"He served two years in the United States Navy. 
Afterward resided in New Jersey, where he learned the 
hatter's trade, and having found for himself a helpmeet, 
they emigrated to the west in 1852, settled first in Wis- 
consin and a feAv years later in the town of Holden, 
Goodhue Co., Minn., where he engaged in farming, and 
in the course of about fifteen ^ears became the pos- 
sessor of 200 acres of land under cultivation. The log 
cabin had been exchanged for an elegant mansion. 
Barns and other suitable accommodations for stock and 
grain-raising, had been erected. A numerous stock of 
domestic animals surrounded the premises. In short, 
everything showed thrift and prosperity. Then he 
left his farm to the care of one of his sons and engaged 
in a successful business in a neighboring city. He says: 
'When we had been living some time on our new farm 
without coffee, my Avife and myself having been accus- 
tomed to use that beverage in the east, we naturally 
desired to enjoy it again. Like most of our neighbor 
farmers we had a yoke of oxen. But the roads were 
very poor, almost impassable, especially in the spring, 
and so I undertook the journey to market, twelve miles, 
on foot. My load consisted of a basket containing eggs 
and a roll of butter. For fear of getting stuck in the 
mud, I left the road and went across lots. In doing so 
was obliged to climb over a number of fences. My 
load soon began to feel heavy and I put it on a stick 
and carried it across my shoulder. Very soon after I 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 73 

came to another fence. I got over all right, but not the 
eggs. The basket slipped from the stick and every egg 
was broken! The onl}' satisfaction I liatl was to sit 
down and make a meal of the raw eggs. I then con- 
tinued my jonrney with the roll of butter. The cloth 
about it was of course badly colored by the broken eggs, 
but I succeeded in disposing of it at the low price of 
seven cents per pound. Thus we once more had coffee. 
A little later my wife got a ride to town with a neighbor 
wheu she carried seventeen dozen of eggs, which siie 
exchanged for seven yards of calico." Calico must have 
been rather high in those early years. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

THE ABORIGINES. 

Some fifty years before Miunesota was known, the 
point of land now occupied by the city of Red Wing, 
was the planting ground of a band of Indians who were 
a part of a large tribe called Dako.tas, The word Da- 
kota means friend. The name Sioux was given to them 
by their French traders. The origin of the word Sioux 
is said to be the last syllable of the name which the 
Chippewas gave them. But I am inclined to believe 
that Sioux is a corruption of the name Jews. 

This tribe was said to be "the most powerful and 
warlike of all the North American Indian tribes," in 
our old school geographies. They occupied nearly all 
the northwestern territory of the United States at the 
time of the Louisiana purchase in 1803, which included 
the upper Mississippi valley and west to the Rocky 
mountains; and from the mouth of the Big Sioux river 
north to Devil's Lake. They were divided into several 
grand divisions under the names Mdewakantonwans, 
Sissetouwans, Titonwans, Ihanktonwans, etc. 

There were seven bands or villages of the Mdewa- 
kantonwans, of which Hheranicha, or Red Wing's vil- 
lage, was one. Three of these villages were situated on 
the Missis.sippi river below St. Paul; four on the Min- 
nesota river below St. Peter, at the time Miunesota was 
organized as a territory in 1849. 



HTSTORV OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 75 

The several bauds coutaiiied from three hundred to 
five hundred inhabitants each, nil the Mdewakantonwans 
numbering about three thousand. 

I shall give in this chapter a brief sketch of some 
of tlie peculiarities of this tribe, gaiued by a short 
acquaintance among them. 

Their language was a surprise to me. It was 
quite full of words to express every variety of thought 
which could possibly come to the minds of a people 
so rude and uncultivated. For instance, the Dakota 
verb admits of a great nuird)er of inflexions. The 
various modifications of an action are expressed with 
conciseness and precision. They have prefixes to 
indicate the manner and instrument of an action. 
The prefix, Ba, shows that the action was done 
by cutting with a knife or saw; Bo, by shooting or 
punching; Ka, by striking, as with a club or axe; iV«, 
by kicking; Pa, by pushing, as with the hand. Ya, as 
a prefix, signifies that the action was done with the 
teeth; /iTsa, means to separate; Bciksa, to cut in two 
with a knife or saw; Boksa, to separate by shooting; 
Kaksa, by striking; Naksa, by kicking; Paksa, by 
pushing; Yciksa, by biting. 

There are separate personal and relative pronouns, 
adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, prepositions, and in- 
terjections almost without number. The personal pro- 
nouns, when used with verbs, are incorporated with the 
same, so that the verbs are conjugated regularly, as in 
the Latin and Greek. 

The Dakotas were more careful than some other 
people in preserving the purity of their language. 
Nick-names and slaug words were not used. Children 
were early taught to speak their words correctly. "■_ This 



76 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

task was generally performed by their grandmothers. 
Their religious ideas were vague and unsatisfying, even 
to themselves. Seldom did they spend time to think of 
a future world. 

Their religious ceremonies were all performed ap- 
parently for the purpose of obtaining present good. 
Yet they firmly believed in a Spirit world to wliicli they 
should go after death. 

The following is a paraphrase of an Indian mother's 
lament on the death of her child, written for the Dakoia 
Friend by Rev. G. H. Pond, one of the earliest mis- 
sionaries to the tribe. 

"Mechoonkshee! Mechoonkshee! (my daugher, my 
daughter) alas! alas! my comfort, my hope has departed, 
my heart is very sad. My joy is turned into sorrow, 
and my song into wailing. Shall I never behold thy 
sunny smile? Shall I never more hear the music of thy 
voice? The Great Spirit Jias entered my lodge in anger 
and taken thee from me, my first born and only child. 
I am comfortless and must wail out my grief. The pale 
faces repress their sorrow, but we children of nature 
must give vent to ours or die. 

" Mechoonkshee! Mechoonkshee! 

"The light of my eyes is extinguished; all, all is dark. 
I have cast from me all my comfortable clothing, and 
robed myself in comfortless skins; for no clothing, no 
fire, can warm thee, my daughter. Unwashed and 
uncombed, I will mourn for thee, whose long locks I 
can never more braid, and whose cheeks I can never 
again tinge with vermilion. I will cut off my dis- 
hevelled hair, for my grief is great. Mechoonkshee! 
Mechoonkshee! How can I survive thee? How can I 
be happy, and you a hopeless wanderer to the spirit 



HISTOKY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 77 

land? How can I eat if you are hungry? I will go to 
the grave with food for your spirit. Your bowl and 
spoon are placed in your coffin for use on the journey. 
The feast for your playmates has been made at the 
place of interment. Kuowest thou of their presence? 
Mechoonkshee ! Mechoonkshee! 

"When spring returns the choicest of ducks shall be 
your portion. Sugar and beriies also shall be placed 
near your grave. Neither grass nor flowers shall be 
allowed to grow thereon. Affection for thee will keep 
the little mound desolate, like the heart from which 
thou art torn. My daughter, I come, I come; I bring 
you parched corn. O how long will you sleep? The 
wintry winds wail your requiem. The cold earth is 
your bed, and the colder snow thy covering. I would 
that they were mine. I will lie down by thy side. 1 
will sleep once more with you. If no one discovers me 
I shall soon be as cold as thou art, and together we will 
sleep that long, long sleep from which I cannot wake 
thee, Mechoonkshee! Mechoonkshee!" 

The earliest songs to which Dakota children were 
accustomed to listen were war songs. The first lesson 
a little boy was taught Avas the use of the bow and arrow. 
The noblest act to which he could aspire was to kill an 
enemy. At about the age of sixteen every boy must be- 
come a brave soldier, and v,'ould become a man as soon as 
he had taken the scalp of an enemy. He was presented 
with a war club and told by the sacred war prophet 
that he must make a man of himself by using it. The 
following is a translation of the speech of an old 
Dakota warrior: 

"The gods gave me a war club, and inspired by 
them, with it I walked the earth without fear. When I 



78 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

am hungry I satisfy myself on the ilesh of Chippewas. 
The wind blows from four points, and with equal free- 
dom I tread the wide world. With my war club I strike, 
and the effect is terror and death. It supplies me with 
food so nutritious, that my appetite hut seklom returns. 
Death agonies are music to the gods by whom I am 
inspired." 

The numerous mounds and cairns which abounded 
in this vicinity, at the time of its settlement by the 
whites, gave evidence that the country had been inhab- 
ited long time, ago by a people who had towns much 
larger and in closer proximity than the Dakotas. There 
were plain evidences too that that ancient people were 
not accustomed to the arts of war. As has been already 
alluded to in this work, no warlike instruments were to 
be found among their relics. But the favorite pastime 
of the Dakotas appears to have been war. A man was 
famous among them just in proportion to the number 
of enemies he had slain. 

That warrior chief. Scarlet Wing, made choice of 
this place, where a busy multitude had once pursued 
the paths of peace, for his headquarters; from vrhence 
he would lead forth his band of followers from time to 
time, armed with tomahawks and scalping knives, to 
surprise and marder their enemies, the Chippewas. 

It is related of this cliief that he became famous for 
his success in hunting and war; and that he acquired 
his name from the color of his blanket, and the celerity 
witli which he swept over hill and prairie, through 
swamp and stream, to surprise and conquer his enemies. 
While on his last expedition he was taken suddenly ill 
and died away from home. 

The nephew of Scarlet Wing Avas the last reigning 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 79 

chief of this band of Dakotas. His name was Wacouta, 
the shooter. It was this chief who informed the writer 
that his uncle, the Scarlet Wing, was buried on a bluff 
near Wabasha. Wacouta was a man of peace. He was 
not accustomed to lead in the warpath, although his 
brfives had the privilege of forming war parties and 
making raids against their enemies whenever they 
desired. 

Wacouta was vei-y tall, straight and dignified in his 
demeanor He was also a man of good judgment. His 
authority was not absolute. He rather advised his peo- 
ple than commanded them. He encouraged industry 
and sobriety; was a friend to the missionaries, and sent 
his own children to their schools when he Avas at home 
hiniself. 

The Dakotas, at that time, had no real homes. Each 
band had its own planting ground, where the women 
and children lived and raised a crop of corn. During 
the time from early in May till about the middle of 
September, they were engaged in planting, cultivating 
and harvesting their corn. Between four and five 
mouths of the year they dwelt in their bark houses 
which were stationary. The remainder of the year they 
dwelt in movable tents, wandering from place to place, 
according as game was plenty in the different localities. 
In the winter their tents were invariably placed in the 
thickest groves for the sake of shelter from the wind 
and storm. 

The labor in the corn-fields being performed by the 
women and children, the men were in the meantime 
engaged in going on war parties, or hunting and fishing. 
So at least it was understood they were engaged. But 
as far as my knoAvledge of them extends, the men spent 



80 HISTOllY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

a great part of the time in summer playing games or 
lounging in the shade. Game was too plenty to occupy 
much of their time in securing what would supply the 
immediate wants of the family. Whiskey was occasion- 
ally brought into the place, which event was followed 
by a drunken row. 

War parties, consisting of a few young men, were 
often started out with great ceremony, but generally 
returned without accomplishing anything; for the rea- 
son that they were not accustomed to attack an enemy 
except by a surprise. Once only did we witness the 
return of a war party in triumph. Some six or eight 
Dakota braves came home with the scalp of one Chip- 
pewa, probably taken from some poor straggler, who 
had unfortunately strayed from the camp alone. As 
this victorious party emerged from the grove at the 
lower end of Barn bluff, their shouts of victory were. 
heard by the people of the village. They bore aloft the 
blocdy trophy, stretched upon a hoop, which was fixed 
to the end of a pole, and could be seen at a distance. 
The whole village was soon in marching order to meet 
the conquering heroes. Songs of victory filled the air 
while those brave young warriors were escorted into 
the centre of the town by a triumphal procession. 
Feasting and dancing now began and was continued a 
part of each day for a month. When one set of dancers 
became tired another took their places. Women gener- 
ally held the scalp while the dance was continued with 
beating the drum and shaking the rattle for several 
hours at a time— such was tJie scalp dance. 

There were other social gatherings and festivals 
common among the Dakotas when dancing and wild 
music were the chief part of the ceremonies. The scalp 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 81 

dance was observed only when the victory over their 
enemies had been gained. 

Three otiier festivals were observed, each about once 
every year; namely, the raw fish dance, the sun dance, 
and the medicine dance. The raw fish dance usually 
occurred in the month of June after a number of days 
of rain, or cool and cloudy weather, and was generally 
observed for the purpose of bringing weather which 
would be favorable to the growth of corn. At least such 
was the reason given for the one held in Red Wing's 
village which the writer attended as a spectator. 

An oblong enclosure of about one-quarter of an acre of 
ground was surrounded by a stake and brush fence. At 
one end was a booth or shelter where the principal actors 
occasionally rested, and where those who made the 
music sat. This booth was open at the sides. Near the 
middle of the enclosure, a pole had been placed in the 
ground in a perpendicular position upon which hung 
two large fish which had been recently caught from the 
river, weighing probably about two pounds each. The 
chief actors on the occasion were four young men who 
had evidently spent some time at their toilets in prepa- 
ration. Their dress consisted of a simple cloth about 
the middle, and the remaining part of their bodies 
was painted with charcoal dust, blue clay and vermilion. 
Their faces were striped with the different colors, and 
werfe as hideous in appearance as possible. When all 
were ready the music of the drum and rattle commenced, 
while the four dancers began to move out upon their 
hands and feet, uttering strange sounds, seemingly try- 
ing to imitate wild beasts. Beating time with the music 
with both hands and feet, they passed around inside the 
enclosure several times, apparently getting more excited 



OZ HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

each round. Occasioually a short rest was taken. 
Finally, the music struck quicker time and these hungry 
dancing bears, or wolves, began to stretch up their 
mouths towards the fishes and to snatch bites from them, 
continually dancing around while chewing and swallow- 
ing the same; then retui'niug and taking another mouth- 
ful, each endeavoring to get his full share until naught 
was left but the heads, back-bones and tails. The four 
dancers had actually devoured all the rest, so far as the 
spectators could see. When they had finished they were 
loudly applauded by their relatives and companions. 
So ended the raw fish dance. How it affected the weatlier 
the reader can imagine. 

The medicine feast was of a more serious nature. 
The word medicine is here used in place of the Dakota 
word wah-kwan which is applied to anything mysterious. 
Their word for the name of the Supreme Being is Wah- 
kwan-tanka, translated into English, Great Spirit. The 
medicine dance, or feast, generally begins at sunset and 
continues twenty-four hours, or, until sunset the follow- 
ing day. The ceremonies of this feast are unknown as 
to their deep meaning, except to those who have been 
initiated as members of the secret society called Mys- 
terious Men. It differs from secret societies among the 
whites in the fact that women were received as members 
as well as men. This society among the Dakotas pre- 
tended to be the depository of all their sacred mysteries. 
The medicine sack was the badge of membership. This 
was the dried skin of a beaver, mink, muskrat or other 
small animal, prepared in the form of a bag, open only 
at the mouth, in which were a few bird's claws, or some 
dried grass, supposed to be endowed with power to work 
wonders. 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 83 

Great preparations were required for this mysterious 
dance. There was cooking of food like unto the prepa- 
ration for thanksgiving dinner in respect to quantity, but 
it was generally all of one kind which would be called 
soup. The high priests, leaders of the ceremonies, 
spend a w'hole night in vapor baths, sweating, singing 
and holding communion with the Spirit World; that 
they may be prepared for their sacred duties. 

All the members must appear in their best attire, 
with faces gaily painted, with badge in hand. Before 
the appointed day arrives a large space of ground is 
enclosed by a slender brush fence. Over this is pro- 
vided a temporary shelter, made with stakes, poles and 
brush, to keep off the sun. The sides of the enclosure 
are left open so as to afPord spectators a good view. 
None but members are permitted to come within the 
sacred enclosure. 

Our party arrived at the scene a little after noon, and 
were present during the concluding hours of the strange 
performances. We found all quietly sitting and eat- 
ing soup from wooden bowls with spoons of the same 
material. Large kettles of the soup stood at one end of 
the space enclosed to which all had access. And when 
all had finished their eating, the master of ceremonies 
arose, said a few words, and the music began. Then all 
arose, put away bowls and spoons, and with medicine 
sack in hand, carried conspicuously in front, they kept 
time with the music, dancing up and down the shady 
hall. Thus with singing, dancing and feasting, by turns, 
the more solemn and mysterious parts were enacted 
without being tiresome to lookers on. 

After the music ceased for an interval of rest, an old 
war prophet stood forth and made a long speech, 



■84 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

recounting the great deeds of a succession of ancestors, 
which had been handed down by tradition, not forgetting 
in conclusion to mention what he himself had done. 

At another interval the time was occupied in the 
reception of new members. The qualifications for such, 
we were told, were: First, suitable age; second, fees for 
initiation paid in advance. These matters were consid- 
ered and decided by the high priests. The candidate 
being informed of his acceptance by them was also duly 
instructed in regard to the ceremony of reception before- 
hand. This ceremony took place in the presence of all 
in open day. 

Great solemnity pervaded the countenances of the 
whole assembly. A fish bone of considerable size, to 
think of passing down a person's throat, was given to 
the novitiate to swallow. After due incantations were 
gone through, he was requested to raise the bone again 
from his stomach, which he did apparently without 
injury. After this was done, the mysterious badge was 
presented to him, and all the mysterious knowledge, 
privileges and immunities of full membership conferred 
upon him. But the most wonderful spectacle of all was 
enacted towards the close, in which the great power of 
the medicine sack Avas displayed in the presence of the 
outsiders. 

While music, by the rattle, drum and singing voices 
was in progress, and all were in motion upon their feet, 
the members began to point at each other, by holding 
up the medicine sack, as if it were a gun and that he was 
going to shoot; and as soon as the member pointed at, 
saw the other's motion, he immediately fell to the ground 
apparently dead. Something like one-third of the mem- 
bers were thus shot down in the course of fifteen or 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 85 

tweuty minutes. These fallen ones had not power to 
rise from their lifeless condition, it seemed, until touched 
by the hand of a high priest. We rejoice that we can 
testify that in every case of death which we witnessed 
on the occasion, the victim was mercifully restored to 
life again. The exercises were closed by a grand pro- 
cession, or what might be called a promenade around 
the enclosure four or five times. 

The leaders or high priests of the medicine men were 
supposed to possess great power in the spiritual realm. 
They had the power to heal the sick, and it was believed 
by many that they could cause the death of any person, 
simply by willing it. Consequently they were much 
feared by the common people. When one in a family 
was taken sick, one of these doctors was sent for. A 
nice present was also sent by the hand of the messen- 
ger. On being satisfied that he should be well paid the 
doctor takes his rattle and goes to the sick person. 
With a knowing air he carefully examines the body of 
his patient until he finds the particular locality of the 
evil spirit that has caused the sickness. The patient is 
now stretched at full length upon a blanket in the mid- 
dle of a tent and a bowl of water placed near. The doc- 
tor divests himself of clothing except the breech-cloth, 
and commences his conjurations by shaking the rattle 
and uttering the most unearthly sounds possible for a 
man to make. By and by while continuing the noise he 
gets down upon his knees by the side of the sick one and 
slowly moves his mouth to the spot where the disease 
is located. The noise ceases for a few minutes while he 
sucks and draws out the evil spirit. Presently he jumps 
to his feet, with violent contortions of his body and 
retchings, at the same time yelling and howling, he 



86 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

spits into the bowl of water till apparently relieved. 
This performance is repeated several times in the course 
of five or six hours. During short intervals the doctor 
stops for a rest and a smoke. Finally when the evil 
spirits have all been drawn out, images are made upon 
a piece of bark to represent them. The bark is placed 
outside the tent and shot to pieces by three or four men 
who are ready with their gnus for the occasion. Another 
method of destroying the spirits was sometimes adopted. 
The bowl of water was set outside and fired into with 
guns, while a woman stood astride of it. After this 
treatment the sick person is expected to recover, which 
is often the case. But it is understood, however, that if 
the doctor has not been duly respected, and well paid for 
his services, he may have performed his work deceit- 
fully, and the sufferer will die. Thus all failures are 
accounted for. 

Polygamy was allowed, but not common among the 
Dakotas. Seldom had a man more than one wife living. 
Wives were generally purchased after being wooed. 
The women were accustomed to do all the hard work. 
They were hewers of wood and drawers of water. They 
cut the wood, hauled it, made the fires, cooked the food, 
and besides all this, planted, cultivated and harvested 
the corn. A tired woman once came to the mission 
house from the field saying that she had finished her 
planting. On being asked why she did not have her 
strong, brave husband help her in such work, she replied, 
that he would then be called a woman and she should be 
made ashamed. 

If a young woman had no father living, an uncle or 
elder brother could bestow her in marriage, which was 
generally done after a good price had been offered. 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 87 

It was a custom for the young man to woo the girl of 
his choice by playing the Mute around and near the tent, 
where the desired maiden dwelt, at different times, until 
he could gain a personal interview. The next step 
after obtaining her consent, he must deposit the article, 
or whatever he intended to pay for his bride, in front 
of her father's or her guardian's wigwam. If the price 
was accepted it was soon taken in. But if left long 
untouched the disappointed lover was allowed to take 
away his property or add something more valuable. 
Whenever the articles proffered were taken into the 
father's possession the young man was at liberty to 
come and claim his bride. To complete the transaction 
and confirm his right, he sometimes carries her to his 
own tent on his back, a piece of gallantry not often 
practiced after that time. 

The Dakotas in their wild state, had a singular mode 
of disposing of the remains of their dead. The body 
was neatly wrapped in bark or a blanket and placed 
upon a scaffold some eight or ten feet high, near the 
wigwam, and there permitted to remain for a month and 
longer often times. Afterward it was taken down and 
buried on high ground. A row of stakes were driven 
into the ground each side of the grave in a slanting 
position so as to meet together at the top, and thus pre- 
vent wolves and other wild animals from disturbing it. 
Great wailings were often heard for several mornings 
and evenings after the death of a person. Relatives 
were accustomed to place food near the grave, and on 
the scaffold near the body of their dead, believing that 
nourishment would be needed by the spirit during its 
long journey to some other world. 

The Dakotas were a kind people to those who were 



88 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

friendly and kind to tliem. During several years resi- 
dence among them we had no difficulty with them 
except in one instance. 

Whiskey could be obtained on the opposite side of 
the river at any time for money, furs, or anything valu- 
able which an Indian could part with. They were not 
moderate drinkeis of intoxicating liquors. Nor were 
they habitual drinkers. They wanted enough to make 
them drunk, when they wanted any. Several would put 
their valuables together and go over and purchase a 
gallon or more at one time, bring it to the village and 
have a good spree. As an Indian was not considered 
responsible for what he did while drunk, these sprees 
often ended in iojury to somebody, and custom allowed 
the injured no redress. 

When five or six men were crazed by whiskey, the 
whole village were on the watch. Every dangerous 
weapon was taken from them, and the children kept out 
of the way, if possible. I remember being called upon 
to dress an ugly wound which had been inflicted by a 
drunken brave upon the head of a woman with a 
hatchet. Whiskey often excites men who are wanting 
in self-control, to do some horrid deed. My one diffi- 
culty was occasioned by whiskey. 

It was but a week or so after a drunken row had 
occurred, that I was walking near the teepees and heard 
a woman cry out, "Now they come with it;" pointing to 
the river she added, "more whiskey." I saw there was 
a canoe approaching which had just left the Wisconsin 
side, and waited at the head of the path which led up 
from the landing. There were six young men in the 
canoe. After trying their boat they came up the bank 
in single file, the leader carrying a covered tin pail. 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 89 

I met him and asked what he had there. "Whiskey," 
he answered. I immediately snatched the pail from his 
hand, and its contents went to soak the ground. Loud 
talk followed on both sides. I told them that whiskey 
was their enemy, that it was unlawful on our side of the 
river, and advised them to bring no more to this village. 
The young men looked ashamed, but offered no violence. 
I was told by an older man, a little while after, that one 
of them boasted that he would bring more whiskey over, 
defying the missionary to spill it. 

But a few days passed before he made the trial. 
The first intimation I had, a man came hurriedly into 
the mission house calling upon me to come out. I went 
out and saw those same young men marching along 
single file, singing as they went. The one who took the 
lead was carrying a two-gallon jug in front, which he 
seemed anxious that I should notice, affirming it to be 
whiskey. I took it as a challenge and boldly grasped 
the handle of the jug to pull it from him, but could not 
wrest it from him, for the reason that a stout cord, tied 
around the mouth of the jug through the handle, also 
passed around his neck. He had kept the cord covered 
with his blanket so that I did not see it until after my 
vain attempt. But I soon managed to draw the cork 
and with both hands inverted the jug in spite of all his 
efforts to prevent it. Not one of his companions offered 
to help him. It was pure whiskey that gurgled out 
upon the ground. When he found that my hands had 
so firm a grip upon the jug that he would lose its con- 
tents, although he dragged me about trying to get it 
away before the whiskey was quite all run out, he 
clinched me by the hair and tore out some locks. But 
I held on till the whole Avas soaked into the ground. 



90 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

During this contest a large number of Indians were 
present. It was doubtless an exciting spectacle. They 
cheered me at the close. My antagonist threw aAvay 
his empty jug. He evidently did not like to give up 
as beaten. AVhen the people began to disperse he 
stretched himself at full length upon the ground before 
the door of the mission house. I kindly asked him to 
leave and go to his own home. He declared he would 
not go. After waiting some time with the hope that he 
would leave, I took a piece of rope and slipped one end 
carefully around his ankles, bringing his feet together, 
and tied it; took the other end over my shoulder and 
dragged him several rods. He begged to be let up, 
promising to go. I took the rope off and he went peace- 
ably away. They did not bring whiskey in any consid- 
erable quantity here afterwards to my knowledge. 

Early in the spring of 1851 a new scholar came to 
our school with the other children. Her appearance 
being somewhat strange, we called her the wild girl. 
It was nothing uncommon for boys and girls to go from 
one village to another to stay a montli or so and return 
again to their parents. The severity of parental disci- 
pline, I think, was often the occasion of such wandering. 
To have a new scholar some fourteen or fifteen years of 
age make appearance at the school was therefore no 
matter for wonder. But this one was somewhat peculiar 
in her manner, and attracted attention. There was a 
wild look in her eyes, and though in girl's dress, her 
hair had been cut off in front like an Indian boy's hair. 
She appeared very anxious to learn to read, applying 
herself with an unusual ardor; but would not say an}^- 
thing about her true residence and former history. 
The other children could tell us nothing about whence 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 91 

she came. I think she was here about two mouths or 
more. Her departure was as unexpected as her coming. 

It was but a short time after the wikl girl left, that 
the following account appeared in the *S7. Paul Pioneer: 
"In the spring of 1850, at one of the villages on the Minnesota 
river, a young girl fourteen years of age, shot another girl with 
whom she was quarreling. The deceased was the daughter of a 
sullen man named Black Whistle. The affrighted girl, after she 
had tired the gun, tied to the trader's house, and was by him 
aided to make her escape down to Wabashaw's village. While 
stopping at Red Wing's village, some hundred miles from where 
the deed was committed, the incensed father overtook her. His 
first plan was to carry her home and sacrifice her at his daugh- 
ter's burial scaffold; but through the influence of some advisors, 
he changed his plan and resolved to make her his slave or his 
wife. For some time she endured what to her was a living death, 
and one night she suddenly disappeared. 

"Not many days after there appeared at Good Road's village a 
young Indian boy, stating that he was a Sissetonwan just arrived 
from the plains. He was well received, no one dreaming that he 
was the fugitive Indian maiden. While in this disguise she 
went out one day to spear fi.sh, when her enemy, the revengeful 
father of the girl she had shot, met her and recognized her. He 
avowed his intention to kill her. She very coolly assented to 
the justice of what he said and left. She next appeared at 
Kaposia, Little Crow's village. Here she passed herself off as a 
Winnebago orphan, in which disguise she succeeded for a time. 
Her sex being suspected she was again obliged to seek for safety 
by flight, and took up her abode at Red Wing's village, where 
she dressed like other maidens and attended the mission school." 

The subsequent history of this girl is not known to 
anyone now living. 

On the Wisconsin side, in the early days, there lived 
a man named Hawley who had no family with him. He 
lived in a shanty alone. He was a cripple; one leg bent 
almost double at the knee, and yet could walk about 
tolerably well. He seemed to be holding a claim and 



92 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

trading with wood-clioppers, but deriving most of his 
income from the sale of whiskey to the Indians. Some 
of the latter having returned and encamped near the 
mouth of Spring creek in the summer of 1854, were 
accustomed to visit Hawley's shanty. One day they 
had a quarrel with him in regard to some bargain in 
which he had deceived them. He ordered them to leave 
his premises, but they refused and continued to annoy 
him till in anger he shot at them and wounded one of 
them so that he soon after died. There was now a 
great outcry in the Indian camp. Every white person 
who came near was threatened and ordered away. Peo- 
ple were under the impression that revenge was medi- 
tated upon somebody. Hawley had fortified his shanty 
with loaded rifles. It was reported that he threatened 
to shoot the first man who came to take him. The few 
settlers in Red AVing, Burnside and Vasa, were very 
much alarmed. The alarm almost created a stampede. 
A deputation, consisting of Dr. W. W. Sweney, Lawyer 
P. Sandford, and the writer, all being well known by 
the Indians, visited their camp to make peace if possi- 
ble. AVe were kindly received, and after a short talk 
were convinced that they did not intend to injure any- 
body except Hawley. What ever became of him we do 
not know. It was reported that his shanty was deserted 
very soon after. The Indians watched him day and 
night, and he was probably killed in his last attempt to 
make his escape. 



CHAPTER IX. 

DANGER APPREHENDED. 

In the summer of 1850 a report came to Red Wing's 
village that a party of Chippewas were coming upon us. 
Then "there was hurrying to and fro in hot haste." 
All the men gathered their weapons of war and took 
their canoes and were soon out of sight, in some hiding 
place along the river. The women and children taking 
what valuables they could carry, ascended Barn bluff, 
where they gathered stones and other missiles for self- 
defense. 

The few white inhabitants were not very much 
alarmed; yet we kept a good look-out for several hours, 
but no Chippewas appeared. The report was founded upon 
the fact that some one had seen at a distance, what he 
took to be a Chippewa, which was probably a defect of 
vision, as no enemy appeared. 

After the Indians had been removed and the place 
occupied by white settlers, fears were entertained by 
some of the latter that there Avas some danger of a night 
attack by the former inhabitants. There were some 
grounds for such fears. The Red Wing band had, as a 
body, opposed the selling their title to this country. 
The graves of their kindred dead were here. This had 
been for many years their hunting ground. The major- 
ity of them were born here. It was natural they should 
desire to remain liere. 



94 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

When the council was called to meet the United 
States commissioners at Mendota for the purpose of a 
treaty, the people were much excited and many angry 
words were expressed. The young braves, it was said, 
had threatened to shoot the chief wiio should first 
attempt to sign any paper or treaty that would oblige 
them to remove farther west. Some were willing the 
whites should have a part of the land, but they wanted 
their reservation to include the present planting ground 
with adjacent territory sufficient for hunting purposes. 

They met the commissioners at Mendota, and after 
the delay of several days a treaty Avas consummated, 
and signed by sixty-four names designated as "chiefs, 
head-men, and warriors." By this treaty they agreed 
to remove to a reservation upon the head waters of the 
Minnesota river. Why was no one killed? The follow- 
ing circumstances will answer the question. 

That council was held under the walls of Fort 
Snelling in the presence of a band of United States 
soldiers. The Indians were subsisted during the time 
on fresh beef and flour furnished by the United States 
Government. They were told they should have schools, 
farming implements, and money — $20,000 in cash — to 
be paid to them the next day after signing the treaty. 
One remark in a speech made by Col. Luke Lea on the 
occasion will solve the whole question. Col. Lea, one 
of the commissioners appointed by the President, said: 
"Suppose your great father (the President) wanted 
your lands and did not want a treaty for your good. 
He could come with 100,000 men and drive you off to 
the Rocky mountains. But your great father loves his 
red children as he does his white children, and he 
wishes us to make a treaty Avhich he knows will 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 95 

save you from the trouble which is now coming 
upon you." 

The truth, I think, is that not one of the seven bands 
concerned in that treaty would have given their consent 
to the same had they not felt compelled to do it. But 
after their removal the Red Wing Indians did not 
return to do any mischief among the white settlers. 
Some who are noAv living can remember how quietly 
they acquiesced in the general contiagration which con- 
sumed all the bark tepees in the village in the spring 
of 1853. The few who returned that season made no 
signs of ill temper; but went and rebuilt in other places 
where the whites would not use the land. 

The people of this country, since its early settle- 
ment, can congratulate themselves that they were never 
seriously molested by the former inhabitants. There 
were two frights, however, in Red Wing. The first was 
on this wise. 

A wedding had occurred under peculiar circumstan- 
ces in regard to one of the parties, and after night had 
far advanced, and the people of this thriving little burg 
were nearly all asleep, a band of boys and young men 
assembled by a previous agreement to give the newly 
married couple what is called a "charivarie." Some had 
learned how to give the Indian war-whoop, or, at least, 
could give a good imitation of it. This, with the 
noise of a few tin pans accompanying, soon awoke the 
sleepers in the neighboring houses. One man, a young 
lawyer, on waking, was immediately impressed with the 
thought of Indians. Telling his wife to dress and go to 
the river and escape in a skiff. Without waiting to dress 
himself, he took his loaded revolver and bounded into 
the street determined to sell his life as dearly as possi- 



96 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

ble. He rushed to the shelter of a clump of bushes 
which stood between him and the place whence the 
sounds came, and waited the attack. A short interval 
between the whoops revealed the sound of familiar 
voices, talking plain English. The truth soon came to 
his mind, and he returned to his home before his wife 
had made her escape. Others remembered the wedding 
soon enough to escape being much frightened. 

The whole town was stirred at the time the news 
came of the Spirit Lake massacre. A public meeting 
was called to devise measures for putting the place in a 
state of defense. No Indians appeared, and after a few 
days the people slept again in peace. 

SPIRIT LAKE MASSACRE. 

The Dakotas of Red Wing's village used to say that 
"although they killed the Chippewas whenever they 
found any, they nor any of their tribe ever killed a 
white person." Perhaps this was true at the time it was 
told us in 1850. But not many years later in March, 
1857, there occurred at Spirit Lake, in the northwestern 
part of Iowa, a terrible scene. In the spring of 1856, 
a company of men, consisting of G. W. Granger, Bartel 
Snyder and Isaac Harriett, went from Red Wing to 
Spirit Lake to select claims and lay out a town. The 
fall of that year saw seven cabins built around that lake, 
all of which were occupied. The three young men from 
Red AVing above named occupied one of the cabins, 
keeping baciielor's hall. 

A Mr. Thacher and family. Marble and family, Mattox 
and family, Judge Howe and family, a Mr. Gardner and 
family, and Mr. Noble and family, each occupied sep- 
arate cabins. 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COtJNTV. 97 

On Sunday, the 8th of March, a band of roving out- 
laws, under the leadership of an ex-communicated Da- 
kota, named Inkpaduta, came to the cabin which was 
occupied by men only and asked for beef. Understand- 
ing, as they afterward claimed, tliat they could take one 
of the cattle, they did so, and commenced cutting it up, 
when one of the Avhite men came out and knocked the 
Dakota down. The white man was immediately shot 
in retaliation. Surrounding the house, the Indians set 
fire to the roof and killed the occupants ns they at- 
tempted to escape from the burning building. Other 
authorities say there was no beef demanded; that Ink- 
paduta was not assaulted by the white men, but that 
the attack was instigated solely and simply by Indian 
treachery and thirst for blood. This version of the 
afPair is reported by Isaac Lauver, W. W. DeKay, and 
others wlio went down to Spirit Lake from Bed Wing 
as soon as they heard of the massacre, to bring the 
remains of the murdered victims, and look after the 
claim interests. 

These murderers went next to a cabin occupied by Mr. 
Gardner and his family and asked for food. Their 
request was granted, and while they were disposing of 
the food given, Mr. Gardner's son-in-law and another 
man who was there went out to see if everything was 
right at the neighboring cabin. This was their last 
mission; a part of the Indians lying in ambush shot 
and killed them also. After securing all the food the 
cabin contained they left Gardner's, but returned again 
the latter part of the afternoon and killed Gardner, his 
wife, two daughters, and his grandchildren, carrying 
away as prisoner the other daughter, named Abby. 
The same night or the next morning they visited the 

, 8 



98 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

homes of Noble and Thaclier and carried Mrs. No- 
ble and Mrs. Thacher prisoners to their camp. The 
following Thursday, March 12, an Indian called at 
Marble's cabin, three miles above Thacher's, and told 
Mrs. Marble that the white people down on the lake 
had been killed. This intelligence alarmed the family, 
the more so as the great depth of snow had prevented 
any communication Avith the other settlers for some 
days; but it was impossible to inaugurate any measures 
for flight or means of safety. The next morning four 
Indians with friendly appearance came to Mai-ble's and 
bantered him to trade rifles. The trade was made, after 
which they prevailed on Marble to go down to the lake 
and shoot at a mark. After a few shots they turned in 
the direction of the house, and managing to get Marble 
in advance they shot him and he fell dead in his tracks. 
Mrs. Marble, who had been watching the maneuvering 
of the bloody tiends, saw her husband fall and ran to 
him. The wretches siezed her, telling her they would 
not kill her but they would take her with them, and she 
was carried to the camp where they had previously 
taken Mrs. Noble, Mrs. Thacher, and Miss Gardner. 

Inkpaduta and his followers went next to Springfield, 
where they surprised and murdered the whole settle- 
ment, consisting of over thirty inhabitants. The news 
was sent to Fort Ridgely and a detachment of U. S. 
troops were sent out in pursuit of the murderous band. 
Learning that soldiers were after them the outlaws 
made haste to leave the vicinity of their depredations, 
taking the four captive women along with them. Mrs. 
Marble and Miss Gardner were afterwards permitted to 
return to their surviving friends and civilization. The 
other two, Mrs. Thacher and Mrs. Noble, were relieved 



HISTORY OF GOODHtJE COUNTY. 99 

from their cruel bondage by death before their rescuers 
reached the camp of the outlaws. 

Only one of this murderous band was killed by the 
IT. S. soldiers who were sent to punish them. That was 
a son of Inkpaduta, who was shot and killed while 
escaping from a camp on Yellow Medicine river. The 
rest of the gang managed to escape jjrobably into the 
Dominion of Canada. The two captixe women were 
redeemed and brought to the white settlements by some 
friendly Indians. 



Lr o 
.0. v.-. 



CHAPTER X. 

rOLITICAL HISTORY. 

The first Territorial legislature of Minnesota met in 
St. Paul on the third day of September, 184U. During 
the session they passed an act relating to the "division 
of the Territory into counties and their boundaries." 
The following named counties were designated: Wash- 
ington, Eamsey, Benton, Itaska, Wabasha, Dakota, Cass 
and Pembina. The first three comprised all that part 
of the territory which had been ceded to the United 
States by the Indians up to that time. Consequently 
the act declared that the other named counties were 
organized only for the purpose of the appointment of 
justices of the peace, constables, and such other judicial 
officers as might be specially provided for. 

Wabasha county, by that legislature, was declared 
to include all that part of the territory lying east of a 
line running due south from Pine Bend, on the Missis- 
sippi river, to the Iowa line, which tract has since been 
divided into eight counties, namely: Wabasha, Winona, 
Olmsted, Filhnore, Houston, Mower, Dodge, and Good- 
hue. When the present counties of Dakota and Good- 
hue were set off in 1853, the boundary lines were 
vaguely and indefinitely defined on account of the 
absence of United States siirveys. Goodhue county 
was then bounded as follows, to-wit: Beginning at the 
southwest corner of Dakota county, thence due south- 



HISTOKy or GOODHUE COUNTY. 101 

east on a line twenty-iive miles, thence on a due line to 
Lake Pepin at a point on said lake seven miles below 
8and Point, thence up the middle of said lake and the 
Mississippi river to the boundary line of Dakota county, 
thence along the line of said county to the place of 
beginning. 

These boundaries were modified by subsequent leg- 
islation in February, 1854, and made to conform to the 
United States survey. The county of Wabasha was at 
that time attached to Goodhue for judicial purposes. 
It was further enacted that at any general election after 
March, 1853, the county of Goodhue might be deemed 
organized for all county purposes; Provided, That at 
said election there shall not be less than fifty legal votes 
cast. The law under which the county was thus organ- 
ized authorized the Governor to appoint all county 
officers until the next general election thereafter. 

The second Tuesday in October of each year was at 
that time the day of general election. The people could 
only vote for a representative to the Territorial legisla- 
ture and for the location of the county seat. Party 
spirit did not run very high at that time, but there was 
a necessity for calling out every legal voter in order to 
have at least fifty votes cast. And at the same time 
Red Wing and Wacouta were rivals for the temporary 
county seat honors. Wacouta was at that period the 
headquarters of the lumbermen, and the enterprising 
proprietors of that townsite Avere not slow to take 
advantage of the fact, and to concentrate as many of 
those hardy sons of toil against the day of election as 
possible. The proprietors of Red Wing were no less 
earnest in their efforts to secure a majority of votes in 
favor of their future city. In a sudden fit of enterprise 



102 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

and industry they hired, it is reported, twenty unmar- 
ried young men from St. Paul and set them at work in 
various capacities. The law required six months' resi- 
dence in the Territory; but ten daj's in the precinct gave 
to a citizen of the Territory the right of suffrage. Great 
care was taken to have the young men here in time, 
quite a number of whom remained as permanent resi- 
dents. At last the second Tuesday of October arrived. 
Great preparations had been made for the election. 
There was no one in Red Wing at that time authorized 
to administer the oath of office to the judges of election. 
Among those who had been selected for judges was 
Benjamin Young, a French half-blood, who had been 
educated so as to read and write the English language 
tolerably well. He visited Point Douglass, where he 
found a justice of the peace who administered to him 
the legally required oath and returned fully prepared 
to act and to qualify the others to act. As the day drew 
near it was found that no ballot-box had been provided 
for this voting precinct. Young was equal to the emer- 
gency. He found an empty tea-chest on which, among 
other devices was tiie figure of a dove with red wings, a 
very appropriate emblem for the place. Had that 
ballot-box been preserved till the present day it would 
be a valuable relic. 

The statutes of Wisconsin in relation to the manner 
of conducting elections was used as a guide on this 
occasion, and Judge Young was exceeding jealous of 
the purity of the ballot-box. He guarded its sanctity 
with great caution. It is proper to explain here that at 
the time this first election was held a number of men 
were employed in cutting wood for steamboats at differ- 
ent points up and down the river. They lived in log- 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 103 

cabins at their respective wood-yards, and as the line 
between the State of Wisconsin and the Territory of 
Minnesota was not clearly understood by the judges, it 
seemed necessary for them to cliallenge every wood- 
chopper and oblige him to swear in his vote in order to 
prevent illegal voting. 

James Wells, who lived down on the border of Lake 
Pepin was the candidate for the legislature. Previous 
to the day of election he visited Red Wing and made a 
speech. He was not an educated man in the usual sense 
of the term and his speech was said to be rare and racy. 
Said he was willing to serve the people rather than the 
interest of any party. Being the only candidate he 
was elected. We heard that he was made chairman of 
the committee, in the legislature, on military affairs, but 
did not learn of his making any report. 

A majority of votes were cast in favor of Red Wing 
for the county seat and Wacouta retired from the con- 
test without murmur. The fifty voters required by the 
act by which the county was to be organized, had been 
obtained and the people were happy in the anticipation 
of a large immigration and a complete organization the 
next year, which proved to be actually the case. 

In the spring of the following year Governor Ram- 
sey appointed county officers. The records of the pro- 
ceedings of this first county board are of interest, show- 
ing, as they do, how great a portion of the county was 
then an unexplored region. The first boundaries of 
assessors' and road supervisors' districts are especially 
amusing. 

The first county officers were appointed by the Gov- 
ernor of the Territory, and were as follows: Sheriff, P. 
S. Fish; Treasurer, Calvin Potter; Register of Deeds, 



104 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

J. W. Hancock; District Attorney, Charles Gardner; 
Clerk of District Court, P. Sandford; Justice of the 
Peace, James Akers; County Commissioners, William 
Lauver, H. L. Bevans, Eezin Spates. 

The first meeting of the Board of Commissioners 
was held on the 16th of June, 1854. The members 
were seated upon a pile of lumber near what is now the 
intersection of Main and Bush streets, Red AVing. H. 
L. Bevans was chosen chairman, and J. AV. Hancock, 
register of deeds, was ex-officio clerk. The office of 
county auditor had not been created at that time. 
But little business was transacted at this meeting. The 
following named assessors were appointed and districts 
assigned them: L. Bates, John Day, M. Soriu. The 
northern district, including that portion of the county 
between the northern boundary and Hay creek, was 
assigned as Mr. Bates' district. The middle district, 
including that portion of the county between Hay creek 
and Bullard's creek, was assigned as Mr. Day's district. 
The southern district, including that portion of the 
county not included in the other two districts, and the 
whole of AVabasha county, Avas assigned as Sorin's 
district. 

The next meeting was held June 28, when the fol- 
lowing bills against the county were presented, the first 
evidences of county indebtedness: AV. S. Combs, blank 
books, !§23.85; Leman Bates, assessor, $6.C0; John Day, 
assessor, $10.00; total, $45.85. 

The returns made by the assessors showed the as- 
sessed valuation of taxable personal property in the two 
districts to be $65,805. • 

The estimated expenses of the county for the year 
1854 were $554.01), and it was ordered that a tax of one 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 105 

per ceut be raised on the present assessment to meet 
the same. 

Charles Spates was appointed road supervisor of 
road district No. 1, which extended east to the west side 
of Hay creek, and embraced all the northwestern por- 
tion of the county from that line. T. J. Smith was 
appointed supervisor of road district No. 2, which 
extended from the west side of Hay creek to Bullard's 
creek, embracing the middle portion of the county. 
Charles Leed was appointed supervisor of road district 
No. H, embracing all the southern portion of the county 
from the line of Bullard's creek. 

Wm. Freeborn, P. Sandford and Leman Bates were 
appointed judges of elections in tlie Bed Wing precinct. 
Alexis Bailey, Chas. Heed and F. S. Eichardson were 
appointed judges of elections in Wabasha precinct. 
Wabasha had been attached to this county for judicial 
purposes. 

The following resolution was passed : 

Rcsoh'cd, To raise six hundred dollars toward the 
erection of county buildings next year; Provided, that 
the legal voters of the county, by a majority of votes, 
consent to the same. 

The location for court house site was discussed at 
some length, and the subject finally laid over till the 
next meeting. 

At the next meeting, held July 22, the following 
resolution Avas passed : 

Resolved, That the court house for Goodhue county 
be located on the block marked and known as "Court 
House Block," on the town plat of Red Wing, accord- 
ing to the survey of the same made by J. Kuauer, 
June 23, 1853. 



106 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

The next meeting was held oil the 18th of November. 
The ccnsideration of bills against the county was taken 
up, and bills allowed to the amount of $84 60; also for 
sheriff and justice fees, $115.45. 

At the closing session in December the following 
additional amount was allowed, $61.00, making the 
total expenses of the county for the year $336.1^)0. 

On the second Tuesday in October, 1854, the people 
elected a full board of county officers: Commissioners, 
Kezin Spates, A. W. Post, P. S. Fish; Sheriff, Harry C. 
Hoffman; Treasurer, M. Sorin; District Attorney, P. 
Sandford; Judge of Probate, A. D. Shaw; County Sur- 
veyor, S. A. Hart; Clerk of the Court, P. Sandford; 
llegister of Deeds, J. AV. Hancock. 

The first meeting of the regularly elected board of 
county commissioners was held on the first day of Jan- 
uary, 1855. No business Avas transacted at this meeting. 
The members simply subscribed to the oath of office 
and elected P. S. Fish as chairman. 

At their second meeting, January 8, the following 
bills were presented and allowed: Chajles Spates, for 
services as road supervisor, $5.00 ; H. S. Simmons, 
burial expenses of a German pauper, $6.00. 

At this session the first list of grand and petit jurors 
was selected. A re-adjustment of assessment districts 
was agreed upon. Wacouta precinct was set off' from 
Red Wing precinct and boundaries given. J. C. Weth- 
erby was appointed justice of the peace; W. R. Cnlbert- 
son and Joseph Middaugh, constables. 

The clerk of the court and register of deeds were 
diiected to procure a case for each of their offices suita- 
ble for filing papers. The register was also directed to 
procure blank books for the use of the county. 



HTSTOIIY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 107 

Provisions were mfule f<;tr offioes for the coiiDty offi- 
cinls. Philauder Sandford had erected a small buildiug 
on Main street, Ked Wing, for a law office. This build- 
ing was used by the clerk of the court, the register of 
deeds, for the meeting of the board of commissioners, 
court room, and U. S. land oifice. 

It appears that the people did not vote in favor of 
raising money for county buildings and nothing further 
was done by the board of commissioners towards that 
object till 1857, except discussing the matter. 

A number of new school districts were set oflF, mak- 
ing the whole number in the county at the end of the 
year nine. Several new road districts were established 
and road supervisors appointed. 

At a session of the board in April, 185G, the follow- 
ing named citizens were appointed judges of elections 
in the several election precincts into which the county 
had been divided : Red Wing, Seth Washburn, R. C. 
Todd, T. J. Smith; Wacouta, H. F. Simmons, George 
Post, Abner W. Post ; Belle Creek, Hans Mattson, 
AValter Doyle, S. P. Chandler; Florence, Samuel Cory, 
Henry Phillips, J. L. Dixon; Sackton, Simon Sackett, 
D. F. Stevens, P. G. Wilson; Cannon Falls, Andrus 
Durand, E. N. Sumner, Alonzo Dibble; Dunkirk, Oie 
Oleson, Samuel Knutson, Gunder Oleson. 

The business transacted by the board this year was 
similar to that of 1855. As the county was constantly 
filling up by immigration, new school and road districts 
were necessarily formed. The total valuation, as re- 
turned by the assessors, was §630,227. This Avas the 
first year that lands had become taxable. 

In the year 1857 action was taken in earnest to pro- 
vide county buildings. 



108 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

The county board cousisteJ of S. P. Chaudler, S. J. 
Hasler, A. W. Post. S. J. Hasler was elected chairman. 
At a meeting held on the 10th of April the following 
action was taken: 

Whereas, It is the duty of the board of county com- 
missioners to provide for the erecting aud repairing of 
court house, jails, and other necessary public buildings 
for the use of the county; and, 

Whereas, This county has no court house, nor jail; 

Resolved, That this board provide for the erection 
x>f suitable buildings for the use of the county. 

Several resolutions followed in regard to the issue 
of bonds, their negotiation, etc. Then they resolved to 
receive plans aud specifications for a court house, to be 
furnished on or before the first Monday in May, at the 
register of deeds' office, and directed the clerk to have 
these resolutions printed three successive weeks in the 
Red Winy Gazette. 

It was the opinion of this board that the court house 
block was too far from the river, aud they resolved that 
the block now occupied by tlie Episcopal church should 
be the site for county buildings, provided a good title 
could be obtained. But nothing came from the above 
resolves of the commissioners, probably on account of 
the great stringency in money matters which prevailed 
throughout the country that year. 

The next reference to building a court house is 
found under date of February 2, 1858, when it was voted 
to erect county buildings according to plans and speci- 
fications presented by Messrs. Ciialfee, provided that 
sufficient county bonds can be negotiated at a sum not 
less than ninety cents on the dt)llar, the cost of said 
building not to exceed thirty thousand dollars. 



HISTOEY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 109 

It will be remembered by many of the older citizens 
that our county orders at that time were worth from 
sixty to seventy-five cents on the dollar. 

On the third Monday in May the bids were opened 
and the contract awai'ded to Hill, Simmons & Stevens 
for completing the building of a court house and jail 
under one roof. Voted to notify the contractors that 
the same be erected on the "Court House Block," as 
designated on the town plat of Red Wing. 

Tuesday, June H, the board voted to accept the sure- 
ties given by Daniel C. Hill and others for the comple- 
tion of the contract for building court house and jail; 
and ordered the same to be placed on file. Voted also that 
the contract entered into by the county commissioners, 
parties of the first part, and Daniel C. Hill and others, 
parties of the second part, be placed on file. 

The court house was finished and turned over by the 
contractors to the county board in August, 185U. 

On the 20th of March, there was enacted by the 
Territorial legislature a law providing for a system of 
township organizations, which was to go into effect the 
12tli of July, 185S, which came near discontinuing the 
work of the contractors for a time. A new county 
board, consisting of the chairman of each l)oard of town 
supervisors, was elected to transact the business of the 
county. 

Pursuant to the provisions of this act, William P. 
Tanner, Mai-tin S. Chandler, and Jesse Mclntire, pro- 
ceeded to the discharge of the duty assigned them, 
defined the boundaries and named the several townships 
in Goodhue county to the number of twenty-one. So 
the new board consisted of twenty-one members. 

Their first meeting was held on the second Monday 



110 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

in 'Tilly, 1858. That little ofliee occupied b}' the register 
of deeds before mentioned was to^ strait for so large a 
body, and a room was foand in Todd & Hasler's block 
on Main street. 

The first day was spent in organizing and appointing 
committees. "Tuesday the committee on rules and reg- 
ulations submitted their report which was adopted. 
These rules fill about eight pages of the journal and 
are about as volumuousi as the rules governing the con- 
gress of the United States." 

It was further related of the proceedings of this new 
board that they were marked by motions and counter- 
motions, speeches and counter-speeches, a few men 
doing the speaking, and a few others doing the work. 
In fact it was a kind of young congress in which some 
men made speeches of the buucome sort. 

That this board held their next meeting in "Har- 
mony Hall," a building which stood on West Main 
street, seemed a fitting appointment. Yet the good 
name of the hall was sadl^' misused by them. In fact, 
they had two presiding officers for a time. 

The following account was written by a member of 
this board who took an active part in this meeting: 

"The facts, briefly, are these: At the first meeting 
of the county board in July referred to, S. P. Chandler 
was chosen chairman, and acted as such, without any 
sign of opposition from any one. The annual meeting 
of the board was fixed by hnv on the second Monday in 
September, and the board adjourned to meet at that time. 
The board so met, and it was the understanding of the 
entire board that at this annual meeting a new election 
of officers was to take place. Accordingly the board 
proceeded to the election of chairman, and I. C. Stearns 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. Ill 

was elected by nearly, if not quite, a two-thirds majority. 
He took the chair without any opposition and a large 
amount of business was transacted at that forenoon 
session. During the adjournment of two hours for the 
afternoon session, the matter was talked up in town, 
and it was the opinion of the lawyers that the new elec- 
tion of officers was illegal, and that the officers elected 
at the first meeting held over for the ensuing year. 
Mr. S. P. Chandler was therefore advised by them to 
again assume the chair and claim his right as chairman. 
So at the commencement of the afternoon session both 
officers called the meeting to order simultaneously, and 
both put motions as they were made and seconded. 
This, however, continued but a very short time, for as 
the voice of the new chairman was stronger, and the 
board paid attention to him rather than to the other, 
the old chairman subsided, and said he appointed the 
other to act for him until the matter was settled. The 
board then proceeded to discuss the question at length. 
The house was crowded with the talent of Eed Wing, 
and the excitement was at a high pitch; for it Was 
understood that the validity of the bonds issued for the 
building of the court house would be affected by this 
decision, as the chairman of the board must sign the 
bonds. 

"Hon. W. W. Phelps was invited to address the 
board on the subject, and he made a lengthy argument 
in favor of the continuance of the old officers. This 
discission occupied nearly the entire afternoon. It was 
finally decided by the board that the old officers held 
over, and Mr. Chandler was allowed quietly to resume 
his seat as chairman." 

The building of the court house at the time was 



112 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

considered by many of the people in the south part of 
the county too much in the interest of Red Wing. 
When this board of supervisors succeeded the county 
commissioners the country towns had much the larger 
representation, and the majority sought to avoid the 
responsibility of the contract made by the old board. 
Legal advice was secured which satisfied them that the 
contract was legal and binding, and rather than risk 
involving the county in heavy damages, the contractors 
were allowed to proceed and the court house was fin- 
ished according to the time specified. 

A feeling of dissatisfaction with the township system 
became general very soon throughout the State, and 
early in 1860 an act was passed by the legislature, pro- 
viding that each and every county in the State should 
be deemed an organized county, and that in those coun- 
ties in which at the last general election there were cast 
eight hundred votes or over, the board of commissioners 
should consist of five members and in all others three 
members, who should hold their offices one year, or 
until their successors should be elected and qualified. 

The last board of supervisors adjourned sine die on 
the 10th of January, 1860. The new board of commis- 
sioners held their first session on the 4th of June fol- 
lowing. This board was composed of J. A. Thacher, 
H, L. Bevans, J. A. Jackson, A. Hilton and E. A. Sar- 
gent. Since then there has been no change in the man- 
agement of the affairs of the county. 

The old court house, with some necessary alterations 
and repairs, has served the purposes intended for more 
than thirty years. Another building upon the same 
block was erected in 1887 for sheriff's residence and jail. 
Few counties in the State have better public buildings. 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. Il3 

A large farm was purcliased by the county commis- 
sioners in 1864 for the purpose of providing a home for 
the poor for the sum of $3000. Necessary buildings were 
erected thereon at a cost of $5,737.18. The buildings 
were completed and ready for occupancy in 1867, where 
many unfortunate and aged invalids have enjoyed a 
comfortable refuge during the last days of their earthly 
career. The main building was accidentally consumed 
by fire in October, 1881). The inmates, about thirtv in 
number, all escaped injury, and temporary accommoda- 
tions were provided for them till a new house was 
erected. 

The new building was completed during the follow- 
ing year at a cost of about $20,000. It is situated on 
•Spring creek in the town of Burnside, and presents a 
very fine appearance. There is an artesian well on the 
premises and the whole surroundings are such as make 
it a pleasant home. The farm is under as good cultiva- 
tion as any in the neighborhood. The whole is managed 
by an overseer who is appointed by the board of county 
commissioners. 

The first political movement having a tendency to 
shape the future complexion of the parties in Goodhue 
county was a meeting held October 8, 1856, on the cor- 
ner of Main and Bush streets. Red Wing. 

Franklin Pierce, a Democrat, was then President of 
the United States. As a matter of course, all appointive 
officers of the Territory were Democi-ats. A U. S. land 
office was located here. The Hon. C. Graham was 
receiver and Hon. W. W. Phelps was register. The 
chief justice of the Territory, Hon. W. H. Welch, also 
resided here. Henry C. Hotfman was post-master. 
Nehemiah Bennett, editor of the Sentinel (now Argus), 



114 HISTOKY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

was justice of the peace. The elective offices for the 
county were then filled with those who were adherents 
of the party dominant at that time. 

While no vote for President could be taken here, 
the interests of the party must not be allowed to flag, 
and in consequence a grand demonstration rally was 
announced for above date. After a large pile of empty 
barrels, boxes, and other combustible materials, had 
been fired and allowed to burn some time for the amuse- 
ment of the boys, and gather a crowd, an organization 
was effected by the selection of Dr. F. F. Hoyt chairman, 
and N. V. Bennett secretary. Hon. W. W. Phelps 
mounted a dry goods box directly in front of the Tee- 
peetonka hotel, and for about an hour poured forth the 
Simon-pure Democracy on the compromise measures of 
1850, and the Kansas and Nebraska bill of Stephen A. 
Douglas, commonly known as Popular or Squatter 
sovereignty. Mr. Graham followed in the same strain, 
except he interspersed his speech with many anecdotes 
which kept the boys in a very good humor. The meet- 
ing closed after Mr. Graham's speech, but the people 
did not seem disposed to leaA'e hastily. They gathered 
into small groups, discussing the matter for themselves. 
Many young men, and some older ones, had come into 
the Territory expecting to make their homes here. 
Among them was the Hon. Charles McClure, from Illi- 
nois, who had been trained in the anti-slavery army for 
some years and had been acquainted with such men as 
Abraham .Lincoln, Lyman Trumball, Owen Lovejoy, 
and others of like sentiment. 

The result of the group conferences was the holding 
of a Republican meeting then and there. Dr. Hoyt was 
found and on being questioned said the Democrats were 



HISTOEY OF GOODHUE COUNTY, 115 

through, and had no objections whatever to the Repub- 
licans having a meeting. H. L. Bevans, John Going, 
and Manville Comstock, a self-constituted committee, 
called upon Mr. IMcClure, who had been sitting at his 
office window listening to the former speakers, and was 
waiting for just such an opportunity. He was soon 
mounted upon the same bos previously occupied by 
Phelj^s and Graham. McClure had not spoken ten 
minutes when it was apparent to all who claimed to be 
llepublicans that he was anniliilating the doctrine of 
popular sovereignty. He had not proceeded much 
longer when a whoop was heard from the front of Clark 
& Allen's hardware store, as if a company of Comanches 
had been let loose, and a moment later down the street 
came some men and some boys with a small wagon and 
some sheets of iron laid so as to flap together, and with 
blow-horns and cow-bells, attempting to drown the voice 
of the speaker. C. C. Vaudenberg, Louis Bennett and 
others came very near getting into trouble over the 
matter. They being the leaders, or able to control the 
leaders of the afiPair, quiet was restored and Mr. McClure 
was permitted to finish. 

The following spring Charles McClure was a candi- 
date for delegate to the Constitutional convention to 
form a State constitution, and after a very hard contest 
was elected by a majority of three over his competitor. 
Since that time the county has not failed to give a 
Republican majority for all National and nearly all 
State nominees for office when privileged to vote for such. 

In the early years of the settlement of the county, 
but little interest was taken in politics. While a Terri- 
tory we could not vote for President. 

Minnesota did not become a State until May, 1858. 



116 HISTOEY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

The first opportunity we had of voting for President 
was in the fall of 1860. Until 1857 party lines were not 
strictly drawn; candidates were voted for on grounds of 
popularity, or individual preference. 

In September, 1857, a new paper made its appear- 
ance in Red Wing styled the Red Wing Republican. 
The first number was dated the 4th of the month and 
contained a full copy of the State Constitution which 
had been framed by a State Constitutional convention 
at St. Paul that year and was presented to the next 
meeting of Congress, asking for admission into the 
Union. The same number contained also a report of 
the proceedings of a political county convention which 
had been held a few days previously, to promote the 
interests of the Hepublican party. Lucius P. Hubbard, 
who had lately become a resident of the county, was the 
first editor of this paper. From this time, party lines 
were more distinctly drawn, the Red Wing Sentinel 
being the organ of the Democratic party, and the Re- 
publican the organ of the party of that name. 

In the proceedings of the first convention of the 
Republican party, it is stated that William Stanton, of 
Cannon Falls, served as chairman, and Henry L. Bevans, 
of Red Wing, as secretary; that the convention was ad- 
dressed by the Hon. Charles McClure in a spirited and 
practical speech, representing the position of the Repub- 
lican party in the coming campaign. A full ticket for 
county officers was put in nomination and the nominees 
were triumphantly elected. 

The political campaign of Goodhue county in the 
fall of 1860 was an exceedingly lively one, as well before 
as after the nominating conventions. This was espe- 
cially the case with the Republicans. 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 117 

The maiu contest in the Kepublican conveution was 
for the oiiice of register of deeds, aud the principal can- 
didates for the office were: Matthew Sorin and T. B. 
McCord, of Eed Wing; Aaron G. Hudson, of Florence, 
and C C. Webster, of Zumbrota. The convention was 
held at the court house on the 11th day of October. 
The feeling among the friends of the different candi- 
dates was at fever heat, and at one time during the con- 
vention, a personal encounter took place. After several 
ballots had been taken Mr. Webster was nominated, a 
result brought about by a combination of the friends of 
the nominee and those of Hudson aud McCord. Mr. 
Sorin and his friends were terribly chagrined at the 
result, and in order to give public expression to their 
feelings, an "indignation meeting" was arranged for, to 
be held at the court house a few evenings latej', at which 
Mr. Sorin was to be the principal speaker. His well 
known eloquence and ability as an orator could not but 
attract a large crowd, and the court room was filled to 
its utmost capacity, to see and hear what might take 
place. 

The speaker was at his best, and the audience, both 
friend and foe, were richly entertained. He took up 
the case of one of his rivals for the nomination, who had 
sold out his delegates to Mr. Webster, and who hap- 
pened to be at that time a young man. In sarcastic 
language and manner he referred to him as a mere 
cipher in the community, and concluded by asking: 
"Who is he? and what has he ever done for Goodhue 
county? He has not done so much as build a hen-coop. 
A man without a home, without a wife, and perhaps 
without a child." 

4:fterward he referred to some other young men who 



118 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

had been somewhat conspicuous in bringing about his 
defeat, as he expressed it. A young man called Capt. 
Smithers, then a well known resident of Red Wing, 
supposing himself to be the person alluded to, rose in 
his seat and asked, "Mr. Sorin, do you mean me?" The 
speaker stopped, straightened himself to his full height, 
and looking steadily at the captain, till every eye in the 
room was turned upon him and perfect silence prevailed, 
he answered: "You, sir; no! I am on the descending 
grade, hut haven't got down to you yet." Of course, 
every one shouted at the reply; but it is doubtful if the 
answer was nearly as mortifying to the captain as was 
the fact that the speaker did not reach him during the 
remainder of his speech. 

It was admitted by all present that Mr. Sorin thor- 
oughly vindicated himself and discomfited his enemies 
on the occasion. He was afterward appointed post- 
master at Red Wing by the incoming administration. 
Some other defeated candidates have not fared as well. 

This county has been fortunate enough to secure 
men of ability and honesty to conduct its affairs with 
prudence and economy, to whatever political party they 
may have been attached for the time being. 



CHAPTER XL 

THE HALF-BEEED TRACT. 

The above named tract of land, which comprised a 
large portion of this county, was in the early settlement 
often the subject of absorbing interest, but is now 
almost forgotten. 

When the Mdewakantonwan Dakotas sold their lands 
along the western bank of the Mississippi to the United 
States by treaty they expressed a wish to reserve a por- 
tion of said land for the benefit of the mixed bloods, 
their relatives, who Avould, as it was supposed, desire 
to cultivate the same, and adopt the customs of the 
whites instead of going to a reservation further West. 

The following described tract was accordingly set 
apart for the purpose: Beginning at the lower end of 
Barn bluff and running thence southwesterly on a line at 
right angles with the general course of the Mississippi 
river fifteen miles; thence southeasterly on a line parallel 
with the general course of said river, to a point fifteen 
miles west of the foot of Lake Pepin ; thence to the foot 
of said lake; thence up said lake and river to the place 
of beginning. As will be readily seen a large part of 
of this tract fell within the limits of Goodhue county, 
and the remainder within the limits of Wabasha 
county. 

There is no doubt that Indian traders and those in 
their pnaploy were the chief instruments in having such 



120 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

a reservation made. The persons who would be entitled 
to share in the same were at the time chiefly children 
under age. 

For some reason this laud was not laid off into 
townships and sections l)y the surveyors until about a 
year after the other part of the county had been sur- 
veyed. A few settlers however had, by permission of 
some relatives of the Indians, settled here. Some had 
purchased the rights of a mixed blood and made a claim 
accordingly. 

I think that the United States surveyors finally 
completed the survey of this tract during the year 1855. 
It was laid off without regard to the boundaries given 
in the treaty, into townships and sections in conformity 
with the adjacent lands. 

Soon after the land office was opened in Red Wing 
a list of the names of all persons entitled to a share of 
this reserved tract was made out and sent to the general 
land office in Washington. Scrip was immediately 
issued to each name designating the number of acres 
the person narmed was entitled to hold. 

Gen. Shields brought the scrip to Minnesota for dis- 
tribution. It was a matter of course that the greater 
portion passed into the hands of parents or guardians 
of children, and from them it passed into the hands of 
speculators. About this time there were probably two 
hundred families of white people settled ui)on this 
tract. Many of them held quit claims from individual 
half-breeds for a certain number of acres. But the 
land officers could not recognize the quit-claims. Noth- 
ing but the scrip from the general land office would 
avail in filing an entry upon any portion of this land. 
Speculators saw their opportunity and begun to take up 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 121 

the laud by "laying the scrip," as the act was called in 
the laud office. The choicest locations were already 
occupied by settlers, and those who held scrip could 
enter the lands these settlers had chosen, many of whom 
had made expensive improvements. The soil had been 
broken and crops raised; buildings and fences erected. 

The actual settlers had the sympathy of all the sur- 
rounding population, but scripholders had the advantage 
of the situation and commenced to obtain title to farms 
already improved. This caused the settlers to rally in 
self-defence. That was an exciting time in Red Wing. 
The disputed tract invaded the eastern part of the town 
itself, and the land office was located here. 

Meetings were held by the actual settlers and coun- 
sel taken as to methods of procedure. They assessed 
upon themselves a tax, raised money, and sent one man 
to Washington to demand justice in their behalf. They 
secured from the land office correct copies of plats of 
all the townships and fractional townships included 
in the tract. And upon whatever quarter section a 
settler had made his improvements, that quarter was 
definitely marked. Scripholders were publicly warned 
against filing upon such land. At a meeting of those 
interested in the cause of the settlers, which was held 
at the Kelly House in Red Wing the 17th of March, 
185G, a vigilance committee was chosen to prevent any 
more scrip being laid upon any land already occupied. 
This committee was empowered to demand that in 
every case where scrip had been laid on actual settlers' 
land, said scrip should be immediately raised. This 
committee was composed of twenty-one members. They 
were men of dauntless courage and muscular power, 
and devoted their whole time and energy to the work 



122 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

appointed until it was accomplished. Two of them 
stood as sentinels at the land office armed with loaded 
revolvers constantly watching every transaction therein, 
being relieved by other two at stated times. In the 
meantime the majority of this committee were acting 
as detectives, arresting and bringing to trial those who 
had already offended. 

It should be remembered that we had then no court 
house and no jail. Lawyers were but few and these few 
all on the same side, so that summary justice seemed 
absolutely necessary. AVe will relate the details of one 
case disposed of by this committee. 

It was a former Indian trader who lived on Lake 
Pepin. He had been a member of the Territorial legis- 
lature, was a man of some notoriety, whose well known 
character had procured for him the appropriate name 
of "Bully." He had succeeded in laying some half- 
breed scrip upon a settler's land before the committee 
was appointed. They were watching his movements; 
knowing that his family was entitled to a large amount 
of scrip, they waited for his next visit to the laud office, 
which was not many days after. He came as far as the 
door of the land office when he was taken into the cus- 
tody of a strong guard of armed men whose leader com- 
manded him to march into the office forthwith, and raise 
the entry he had made upon a settler's land by scrip. 
He utterly refused to do so, and defied the committee to 
compel him thus to do. He was escorted to the Tepee- 
tonka hotel where a strong guard was kept over him 
for several hours. Meantime preparations were made 
for his trial and its consequences. Witnesses were 
summoned and he was convicted of refusing to obey 
the mandate of the committee. He was then escorted 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 123 

down to the river which was still covered with ice, 
though it was near the close of March. Very near the 
middle of the stream a hole had been cut large enough 
to put a good sized man into. He was there told to 
take his choice either to go immediately to the land 
office, and in the presence of the members of the com- 
mittee, raise that entry of scrip, or be put down through 
the ice. He looked into the faces of those determined 
men a moment, and made up his mind to go and do as 
they had ordered in relation to the scrip. Two or three 
other cases of this kind were diaposed of by the com- 
mittee with similar results. No personal injury was in- 
flicted upon anyone and the committee accomplished 
the work which was appointed them, for the time being, 
in a very efficient manner. A decision from the general 
land office at Washington in a few weeks relieved them 
from their task, and gave satisfaction to all the settlers. 
By this decision, those who had settled upon the tract and 
made impi'ovements thereon, had the preemption and 
homestead rights, the same as on other government 
lands. The same decision granted to the holders of 
half-breed scrip the privilege of laying the same upon 
any other government land not previously claimed by 
an actual settler. All the vacant land on the half- 
breed tract was taken very soon after this decision? 
the situation near the river enhancing its value. The 
distance of a few miles from market was considered a 
great disadvantage before we had any railroads. 

None of the mixed bloods ever cared to settle on the 
land thus set apart for their benefit. It soon all passed 
into the possession of immigrants from the other 
states, and those who came from Europe. But the end 
of trouble from that half-breed scrip was not yet. Many 



124 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

of the resideuts of this county were subjected to the 
privilege of paying twice for their right to possess their 
farms. Tiiey first paid the parents or guardians of the 
chihh'en in whose names the land had been first entered, 
receiving a guardian's deed. A dozen or more years 
after, as the child arrived at majority, another payment 
was demanded and generally paid. 

There were several cases known to the writer where 
a person held and cultivated the land as his own, having 
received a guardian's deed, for more than twelve years, 
Avhen a lawyer visited the place and claimed the farm 
with its improvements, as the attorney of some child 
just become of age, and now he must pay again for a 
quit-claim from the child or stand a law-suit. Now a 
law-suit is rather expensive, as all who have had one 
must know, and those who have not may know by attend- 
ing the session of a court where a suit is pending concern- 
ing the title to a piece of land. Any farmer will sooner 
pay a few hundred dollars than entertain such a thing. 

The people who now reside along the valley of Lake 
Pepin and within fifteen miles of said lake in Minnesota, 
are certainly to be congratulated that they enjoy more 
peaceful times than were granted to those who preceded 
them. But a very small number of that vigilance com- 
mittee of twenty-one now survive. They are entitled to 
honor for having done their work well. 

The celebrated half-breed tract was a complete farce, 
and likewise a very costly one to many of our early set- 
tlers. It was a trick of the Indian traders to make 
money for themselves and litigation for those who came 
from far to make homes for their families, and lay the 
foundations for civilized and Christian institutions in a 
wilderness. 



CHAPTER XII. 

KEMINISCENCES. 

Every new region has its peculiar attractioDs. The 
largest share of the early settlers of Minnesota were 
doubtless attracted hither by reports of the healthful- 
ness of the climate and fertility of the soil. But there 
were attractions for all classes. All trades and profes- 
sions are wanted among civilized men. No better 
description of the employments and diversions experi- 
enced in early times in Goodhue county can be given 
than is furnished in the following address by Judge E. 
T. Wilder, delivered before the Old Settlers' Associa- 
tion, in January, 1883: 

"In May, 1856, in company with Mr. Chas. Hall, of 
Ohio, the father of our O. M. Hall, I left Dubuque for 
Minnesota. Traveling with our own team, we went 
west to Waterloo on Cedar river, then up that stream, 
visitiug Cedar Falls, AVaverly, St. Charles, Osage; 
thence through iVustin, Owatonna, Faribault, Cannon 
Falls, to Red W^ing. Returning from this point south, 
we passed Poplar Grove, Oronoco, Rochester and Deco- 
rah, to Dubuque. 

"The incitlents of this trip were not a little diversi- 
fied. Hotel accommodations, even in towns, were by no 
means incapable of improvement. In this particular, 
Red Wing was not an exception. The regulation diet 
was fresh pork from i-hoats of the racer variety; dried 



126 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

apples in different forms; a decoction of the tea plant 
with little or no sugar; and now and then a dish of 
corn coffee. The only bright, sunny spot we found on 
the whole route was Owatonna. This picture is a pleas- 
ant one to this day. Reaching that place at noon, we 
stopped for dinner at a small but cheerful looking hotel. 
We found no one to care for us but the landlady, a neat, 
tidy, petite, and charming lady; for all this she was! 
Looking after the team ourselves, she, unassisted, with 
exceptional promptness, prepared the dinner. The 
table was neatness personified, and the dinner was in 
all respects entitled to equal commendation. With such 
a table, such a dinner, and such a waiting maid, stand- 
ing out in bold contrast with the experience of the few 
preceding days, no one of the early settlers will doubt 
that we did full justice to the dinner, and honor to the 
hostess. 

" This trip was purely one of observation. No point 
visited pleased me as well as Red Wing, and no section 
through which we passed equaled in promise what we 
saw in Goodhue county. In a few days I returned to 
Red Wing to look over the ground again and with more 
care. This was about the 20th of June. At this time 
I formed numerous acquaintances, prominent among 
whom were Judge W. H. Welch, Messrs. Phelps and 
Graham, J. C. Weatherby, James Lawther, Messrs. 
Smith, Towne & Co. Of the latter firm I then saw 
more of Mr. Towne than of his partners. My interviews 
were mainly with him, and though long since gone to 
his rest, I am pleased to say that in all my intercourse 
with men, few, as a stranger, have ever met me with more 
of cordiality and gentlemanly courtesy than he. The 
result of these investigations was a determination to 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 127 

remain here. I rented an office in the second story of a 
wooden building, then nearly completed, standing on 
the north side of Main street, the present site of Rich's 
hardware store. Red Wing then contained a population 
of perhaps six hundred. 

"A few days after, I returned to Dubuque and sent 
Mr. A. AV. Pratt forward with our office furniture, 
following him about the 10th of July. I found the 
building before referred to completed and occupied. 
In the west compartment, on the lower floor, was the 
U. S. land office; in the east, the hardware store of 
Clark & Cooper; in front, over them, was our office; and 
in front, over the land office, were Messrs. Smith, Towne 
& Co. ; and back of them, the law office of Murdock <fe 
Bristol. 

"From that building radiated many matters of prac- 
tical importance to this land district. From well nigh 
all parts of the State came attorneys to be heard in 
cases of contest in the land office court. 

" In this block were concocted the thousand and one 
practical jokes that contributed not a little to save our 
people in those days from ennui. 

"Those who are familiar with that period in our 
history need not be told that our friend Pratt was the 
presiding genius in this department, supported by 
Phelps Everett as his efficient and unfailing aid. While 
a volume could be filled with reports of their- work in 
this field, I give only a specimen. 

"Messrs. Clark & Cooper had ordered and received 
the bell for the new Presbyterian church. It stood 
upon the sidewalk in front of their store and of course 
directly below and in front of our office; its position 
was such that it could be easily rung. I had just re- 



128 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

turned from the East with memoranda for numerous 
business entries upon our books. I was seated at one 
side of the table in the office, and Pratt at the other, 
making entries at my dictation. It was a hot day in 
summer and the office windows Avide open. We liad 
progressed with our work but a little time, when clang, 
clang, in full tone, went the bell; not a single tap or 
two, but persistently. Of course it disturbed us. An 
exclamation of annoyance on my part was followed by 
Pratt's quiet movement to the window to discover by 
whom the bell was rung, and to request its discontinu- 
ance. From him came the remark, 'The scamps have 
run; they must be the same cubs who have kept the 
bell going for the last two nights. They don't let a 
fellow sleep.' 

"Our work was barely resumed when the boys gave 
notice of their return by interruption number two, and 
with increased power. Pratt moved rapidly to the win- 
dow; the boys were just disappearing round the corner. 
Tliis game was kept up two or three times more. At 
last Pratt left his seat, saying, 'Confound them; I will 
catch them anyway ! ' Going to his closet he produced 
a pitcher of water, the best part of a gallon, and taking 
position behind the wall near the window, watched the 
movements below. Some little time elapsed with no 
results. Meantime he stood and watched. At length 
came the sound of the bell with still increased volume, 
and simultaneously out went the contents of the jntcher, 
followed by the joyous outcry, 'I hit the biggest fellow 
squarely in the face! I guess they'll stop now.' And 
they did. 

"The first religious service I attendetl in Pted Wing 
was in July, 1S.3G, in the seminary building of the 




#-<*rr- , 




HISTOEY OP GOODHUE COUNTY. , 129 

Haiiiline University. A local minister, not now in the 
place, officiated. 1 remember nothing of his sermon 
further than that by way of illustration he presented 
to his congregation by a word picture, a pig, which, 
trying to force itself through a rail fence, finds itself 
caught so that it can move neither forward nor backward. 
On the way from meeting Mr. Pratt, being in company, 
suddenly stopped, and with a tone and expression of 
anxiety, said, 'Hold on. Judge! I have got to go back.' 
'Why, what's the matter?' 'Why, don't you hear that 
poor pig squeal? I must go back and get him out of 
the fence.' 

"In those days the range of amusements was limited 
and sports of the field and stream had many votaries. 
Allow me to photograph one feature of a fishing trij^, 
and a single hunting scene. As soon as the ice in the 
river was knoAvn to be firm, parties could be seen, each 
with his blanket, spear and decoy, at an early morning 
hour, moving with dignity toward the favorite run way 
for the day's sport. The language of the thermometer 
was ignored. Twenty or twenty-five below prevented 
no one from keeping a previous engagement. Reach- 
ing the designated poiut, the first step was to build up- 
on the bank a big log fire, the next to cut the number of 
holes, and then commenced the work of the day. 
Seated upon the ice under his blanket, with spear in one 
hand and the string of his decoy in the other, the 
sportsman would watch for his prey, until by reason of 
his cramped position his limbs uttered their protest, 
then join his comrades at the fire, swap yarns, roast and 
eat salt pork, and then again take up his spear and 
decoy for the second instalment of what some of you 
would characterize as discomfort and folly. Again and 

10 



130 HISTOKY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

again 1 have heard the question : ' What pleasure can 
there be in this?' If I could take one of these skep- 
tics under my blanket and compel him to keep perfectly 
still, the answer would readily be given. Like a flash, 
like a ray of light through the clear pellucid water 
striking at the decoy as he goes under and beyond the 
hole, darts a twenty pound muscalonge. The nerves 
respond as to a current of electricity. Now, not a mo- 
tion, not a noise, not even a long breath. In a moment 
or two, he comes moving slowly, cautiously, suspiciously 
back. You first see the very tip of his nose as it pro- 
jects above the ice. In the slowest, most cautious man- 
ner possible, watching everything, he moves steadily on 
towards the decoy, and then when he has passed so far 
under the hole as to present his head and shoulders in- 
side of the wall of ice, a quick, sharp, downward blow, 
skillfully given with the suspended spear, and the 
fellow is yours. If in this there is not excitement, if 
there is not pleasure which a sportsman feels to his 
very fingers' ends, then recollection is strangely at 
fault. 

"Occasionally our trips were made with teams 
and to points some distance away. One trip of this 
sort will not readily be forgotten. The party consisted 
of Dr. Sweney, Prof. Wilson, Teele, Downing, Brundage, 
Abe Thomas, Dr. Hoyt and myself. The shoes of the 
team had been recently sharpened; we drove up the 
river some distance and then across the island and 
struck the Vermilion slough at a point five or six miles 
above its mouth. We had in that neighborhood a good 
day's sport, Mr. Downing usiug hook and line and 
catching 'snakes,' the balance of the company using 
spear and decoy taking fish. We returned by the Ver- 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 131 

milieu; all were on board (Mr. Teele excepted, who 
was iipou skates), Mr. Thomas driving. Moving at a 
good round trot, without premonition we entered upon 
a section of ice so thin that a jet of water of an inch 
or more in height followed each cork of the shoes of 
the horses as they were raised from the ice in our 
progress, and so feeble as perceptibly to yield to the 
weight of the load. You may well imagine that at that 
moment our sleigh contained white faces, pallid lips and 
nervous men. It was madness to stop; our only chance 
for safety consisted in going on and over the weak 
ice if possible, and this the driver instinctively appre- 
ciated. Applying the whip promptly and smartly, the 
team fairly flew until solid ice was reached and safety 
assured. For a brief period the strain was painfully 
intense. It was an experience no one of that party was 
ever ambitious to repeat. 

"In the summer of 1857, a company, consisting of 
Mr. Going, Mr. AVilliston, Brown and others, left Red 
Wing for an extended chicken hunt. In the vicinity of 
Hader the troop were ranging over quite an area, yet 
within sight and hearing. Two of the company fired 
at a covey of chickens, and in a direction not toward 
but from Mr. Going. The reports of their guns had 
barely reached us wdien all eyes were turned to Mr. 
Going some distance away, who howling in agony was at 
intervals hurling curses loud and deep at the heads of 
our companions for their supposed carelessness, while 
he was with both hands holding up one leg, and at the 
same time trying to preserve his equilibrium, by 
hopping and jumping, not quite gracefully, upon the 
other. All feared he was seriously wounded, and were 
at his side with the least possible delay. He was still 



132 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

grasping and rubbing the calf of tlie injured leg and 
obviously suffering intense pain. We placed him 
gently upon the ground, removed his boots and so much 
of his clothing as was necessary for a thorough examina- 
tion, when to our surprise as well as his, no blood, no 
wound, no mark, not even a scratch could be found. 
Further examination disclosed the fact, that a single 
shot had struck him on the upper lip, had passed 
through and lodged against the skin upon the inner 
surface of the lip, and that was the extent of the injury. 
Two questions are suggested: First, where did that 
one shot come from? and second, Avhat is the nervous 
connection between the lip and the calf of the leg? 

"Among the citizens of Red Wing and the surround- 
ing country there are few better or more widely known 
than John Jordan, who is still living on a farm in 
Wacouta. His life's career is here given in his own 
words: 

"I was born in Belfast, Ireland, March 6, 1805. 
My father enlisted as a private soldier in 1798, when 
the Irisli rebellion was raging. The first night he 
brought his gun home, the rebel neighbors flocked 
around his house demanding the gun. My mother with 
a baby brother in her arms, w^ent to the window to look 
out, when one of the crowd struck at her wdth the butt 
end of his gun. She ran into an adjacent room, threw 
the baby on the bed, twisted the bayonet off father's 
gun, pulled him from the door and swinging the weapon 
over her head, swore that the first man who w^ould 
touch her she would run through. The disturbers, 
awed by her courage, stepped back, and allowed her to 
pass quietly to a neighbor's house, while they withdrew 
without more trouble. My mother was large and very 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 133 

religious. It was the first and onl}^ time she was ever 
heard to use a profaue word. She was a member of the 
Presbyterian church. 

" My father Avas a fancy linen weaver before he be- 
came a private soldier. He was also something of a 
mechanic. He made his own loom for weaving, and 
mother spun the yarn. I was the fifth of thirteen 
children. My parents were very poor, and as the family 
was large, the children had to fight for themselves when 
very young. 

"At the age of seven I was put into a fancy print- 
work establishment in Dublin, to which place my par- 
ents had removed, when the rebellion was over. I had 
no time to go to school. I learned to spell and read, 
studying by myself during the intervals when work at 
the factory Avould stop. Never wrote a copy at school. 
The little I learned from books was in teaching my own 
children at home. When I was sixteen years old I 
began to serve as an apprentice to the fancy printing 
trade. T served seven years. About the year 1832 or 
1833, I was chosen out of a large factory of fancy 
printers, to print a dress for the queen of England 
when she was a little maid and before she wore the 
crown. It was a seven colored Chinese pattern and 
took seven blocks for the design. This was at Ireland- 
bridge near Dublin. I went from there to England and 
worked several years in Manchester. 

"The year 1845 found me employed in the Globe 
print works at Fall River, Mass. From there I went to 
Garner's print works, Rockland county, N. Y., where 
I worked nine years, and laid up from my earnings 
$2,000. In 1856 I lelt for Red Wing, Minnesota. 

"This last trip was not without its trials. In Chicago 



134 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

I lost $800 in gold, wliicli my wife forgot under her pil- 
low in her sleeping room. She had nine in the family 
to look after, and in the hurry forgot the money. We 
spent three days in the city trying to recover it without 
success. We reached Ked Wing, November 1, 1856, and 
in the following year settled in Wacouta. We were pros- 
perous until the breaking out of the war, when all the 
help I had went to fight for the Union. Three sons 
went away; one returned broken down in health, and 
the other two lie in some southern ditch for the sake of 
their country. I was then nearly sixty years old; I had 
to rent out my farm. I now get a pension of $12 per 
month. I had twenty relatives on the battle field. 
The war was a sorrowful thing on me and mine, but it 
had to be, or freedom was no more, and if I had been 
young I would have been there too." 

Soon after tlie close of the war father Jordan wrote 
the following, entitled, 

"my boys' pictures." 

Their pictures are here now, 

But their bodies are not, 
They lie far South away 

In some rebel's green lot. 

For their country they fought, 

For this Union did fall, 
On the battle field died, 

By the traitors" sad ball. 

The fourth of October 

In the year Sixty-two, 
The fighting was dreadful 

At Corinth it is true. 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 135 

When Nat. the brave fellow 

To his comrade did say, 
"Though now in great danger, 

Let us not run away." 

But before the stout boy 

Could receive a reply, 
A great shell knocked him down, 

And in blood he did lie. 

He was borne to a tent. 

And his comrades did say. 
It was of his mother, 

That he spoke that day. 

He said, "Tell my mother, 

Do not mourn much for me; 
I die for my country 

And sweet liberty." 



CHAPTER XIII. 

THE CIVIL WAE. 

The part taken by the citizens of this county during 
the war of the rebellion is well worthy a permanent 
record. 

Most of the people had but newly settled here. 
They were from many parts of the old Avorld, and from 
distant parts of the United States. The people from 
diiferent localities not being acquainted with each 
other's language or customs, made communication with 
neighbors sometimes difficult. Yet the call for volun- 
teers was responded to, bravely and willingly, by all 
classes. When the tocsin of war was sounded in 
April, 1861, the whole population of the county did not 
exceed 9,000. During the war we furnished 1,508 en- 
listed men, which was about one-sixth of the number of 
inhabitants. The people Avere then fully engjiged in 
the important work of laying the foundations of society, 
and building the homes for themselves and families, 
which they hoped to enjoy in tlie future. 

Among all the people of the northern states, none 
seemed more ready to devote themselves to the cause 
of the Union than those who had lately come from 
across the ocean to make their homes in this country. 
From a single family of five boys in the town of Belle 
Creek, four enlisted as volunteers and marched to the 
front, while the fifth sent a substitute. In fact nearly 
every able bodied man of suitable age offered himself 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 137 

to serve in the federal army, and those who stayed at 
home by the stuff, devoted their time and means to a 
greater or less extent in sustaining the Union cause. 

Husbands, fathers, and sons bravely left the com- 
forts of home and the society of loved ones to endure 
the hardships and face the dangers of war. Nor Avas 
less patriotism displayed by those who by age or 
physical disability were prevented from enlistment. 
They also contributed their time and means to sustain 
the wives and children whose husbands and fathers 
were engaged in the tented field. Whenever money 
was called for it was freely given. Funds were raised 
in the several cities and townships and placed in the 
hands of committees who were appointed to distribute 
the same among soldiers' families according to their 
several necessities. 

A public meeting was held in Red AVing very soon 
after the first company of volunteers had left, to con- 
cert a plan for the relief of soldiers' families. A sub- 
scription Avas raised amounting to over $2,0C0 and a 
committee was appointed to distribute the same from 
time to time, according to the necessities of such 
families. 

During the progress of the Avar other towns in the 
county followed the example, by furnishing aid to 
soldiers' families when needed. The board of county 
commissioners voted a bounty of $20 to be paid out of 
the treasury of the county, to each and every person 
Avho enlisted or reenlisted in the service of the United 
States for the AA'ar, Avhose enlistment Avas accredited to 
this county. Additional bounties were given in the 
several townships. It is not possible to give an exact 
account at this day of the whole amount of money 



138 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

expended by the people of this conuty, to sustain the 
cause of the Union. An approxitn tte estimate can be 
mada by giving amounts which were raised by a few of 
the county towns. 

According to the records of Vasa, that township 
raised by taxation $12,120; Featherstone, $13,000; 
Belvidere, $3,500; Goodhue, $2,700. Large sums were 
raised in all the townships by voluntary subscriptions 
for the sanitary and christian commissions. 

Before the first battle at Bull Run, just after the 
federal army had crossed the Potomac, the chaplain of 
the First Minnesota regiment issued the following 
circular: 

" To the churches of Christ in Minnesota of every 
name, greeting: 

"Grace be with you, mercy and peace from God the 
Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the 
Father, in truth and love. 

"By request of Sargeon Stewart and Assistant 
Surgeon LeBoutillier, I sent this circular. 

" A regiment, during the first months of its organiza- 
tion, is necessarily destitute of adequate hospital funds, 
and owing to the depression on the department at 
Washington, ordinary medical supplies are limited. 
Soldiers exposed to the heat of the noonday sun, 
and the malaria that walketh in darkness, frequently 
find their way after the nights' watch, to the hos- 
pital. Careful nursing, and food more delicate than 
army rations, are the remedies prescribed for recovery. 
The surgeons feel that the various branches of the 
church in Minnesota, whose children are all represented 
in the regiment, will esteem it a privilege to contribute 
something, even the widow's mite, to procure a lemon 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 139 

or orange, or a cap of cold water, or other refreshments, 
for a soldier debilitated by exposure to southern suns, 
and they have selected the writer as a medium of com- 
munication. 

"CoutributioQs should be made for the Hospital 
Fund of the First Minnesota regiment and forwarded 
in Eastern exchange. All receipts will be publicly 
acknowledged by 

" Edward D. Neill, Chaplain. 

"July 9th, 1861." 

The above circular was responded to so promptly 
and abundantly from all parts where the members of 
the First regiment were known, that Chaplain Neill felt 
it necessary to send the following dispatch to Governor 
Ramsey : 

"Don't kill us with kindness. Tell liberal men and 
noble women to send us no more money, nor clothing. 
God bless them. "E. D. Neill." 

We cannot honor too much the memory of those 
who went forth in the army and gave their lives for 
their country; nor can we show too much respect for 
the survivors of the bloody conflict who still remain 
among us; but it is proper also that those to come after 
us should be made acquainted with the fact, that it was 
not only those who were actually engaged in the battles of 
the Nation, who made sacrifices and who did what they 
could to sustain the Union in the time of peril. Those 
who could not bear arms, bore the burden of fur- 
nishing supplies for the soldiers in the battle field and 
hospitals. 

It was estimated in May, 1861, that within eighteen 
days after the war commenced, thirty-two millions of 



140 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

dollars were contributed by states, societies, and 
individuals in the North, to aid the government in 
quelling the rebellion. This sum was given spontane- 
ously and in addition to the taxes which the govern- 
ment imposed for carrying on the war. It can be read- 
ily shown that the county ol Gjodliue contributed its 
full share in this patriotic work. 

On the 12fch of April, 1861, the first gun of the war 
of the rebellion was fired. Fort Sumter, near Cliarles- 
ton. South Carolina, was taken by the secessionists. 
Two days after the President of the United States 
issued his proclamation as follows : 

"Whereas, The laws of the United States have been and are 
now violently opposed in several States by combinations too 
powerful to be suppressed in the ordinary way. I therefore call 
for the militia of the several states of the Union, to the aggre- 
gate number of 75,000 men, to suppress such combination and to 
execvite the law. I appeal to all loyal citizens to facilitate and 
aid in this effort to maintain the laws, the integrity, and per- 
petuity of the government, and redress the wrongs long endured. 
The first service assigned to the forces, probably, will be to re- 
possess the forts, places and property which have been seized 
from the Union. Let the utmost care be taken consistent with 
the object, to avoid devastation, destruction, or inteiference with 
the property of peaceful citizens in any part of the country; and 
I hereby command the persons composing the aforesaid combina- 
tion to disperse within twenty days from date. 

"I hereby convene both houses of Congress for the 4th of July 
next, to determine upon measvireq for the p'lblic safety which 
the interest of the subject demands. 

"A. Lincoln, President U. S." 

The patriotism of the people in every northern state 
was thoroughly awakened. The new settlers in the 
sparcely inhabited Northwest were not a whit behind the 
older states in responding to the call of the President. 



HISTOKY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 141 

Only four days from the date of this call, the following 
notice appeared in the Goodhue County Repuhliccm. 

"TO ARMS ! TO ARMS ! ! 

"A public meeting of the citizens of Goodhue 
county will be held at the court house, Friday evening, 
the 19tli instant, at 7 o'clock. 

"In view of the public exigencies, every patriot that 
can attend should do so. A full company of infantry 
must and shall be organized for the service of the 
government. 

"Signed, "Many Citizens." 

That day the U. S. flag was seen floating from the 
cupola of the court house. Early in the evening 
crowds paraded the streets with music and banners, and 
the court house was thronged at the appointed hour. 
Judge W. H. Welch was appointed chairman. On tak- 
ing the chair the Judge made a patriotic speech which 
met a sympathetic response from the hearts of all 
present, urging the importance of raising a company of 
soldiers in Goodhue county at once. The following are 
extracts of the notice of the proceedings of this meet- 
ing which appeared in the weekly Repuhliccm of April 
26th: 

"The meeting held in this city last Friday night was 
an important event in the history of Hed Wing. It 
greatly exceeded both in numbers and enthusiasm, any 
gathering that has ever taken place in this locality. 
The people turned out en masse, and signified by word 
and action their patriotic devotion to their country in 
its hour of peril. It was indeed a glorious sight to see 
men forgetting the differences of the past, laying aside 
the issues that had divided them until now, and rally- 



142 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

ing side by side in a single cause. It was an occasion 
never to be blotted from the memory of an individual 
present. * * * The audience were entertained by 
stirring speeches until a late hour, when a call was 
made for volunteers which was responded to by up- 
wards of fifty, who placed their names to a paper pledg- 
ing their lives and fortunes for the defense of their 
country against an armed rebellion." 

On Tuesday, the 23d of April, 114 men had enlisted, 
fourteen more than wanted for a full company. Friday 
following the company was rea'ly for service, having 
organized by the elective of the following officers: 
Captain, Wm. Colville, Jr.; Lieutenants, A. E. Welch, 
M. A. Hoyt; Sargeants, Martin Maginnis, C. P. Clark, 
Hezekiah Bruce, H. T. Bevans; Corporals, John Bar- 
row, A. E. Scofield, Geo. Knight, Chas. N. Harris. 

Saturtlay afternoon, April 27, the Goodhue volun- 
teers left on the steamer "Ocean Wave" for Fort Snell- 
ing where the regiment, First Minnesota, to which they 
were assigned, was mustered in. Their departure was 
witnessed by a large number of citizens, who gathered 
on the levee to bid them farewell. Among the crowd 
were many relatives and friends of the soldier boys, 
and the parting scenes can be better imagined than 
described. Many an eye was dimmed with tears, and 
many hearts throbbed with emotiou, as the brave boys 
filed aboard the boat. And when the steamer began to 
move away from the landing, the crowd on shore began 
to cheer most heartily, which was responded to by the 
volunteers ; and amid the waving of the Hags and 
handkerchiefs, hurrahs and cheers of the luultitude, the 
boat with company "F" passed out of sight. This was 
our first experience in the business of real war. Yery 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 143 

few of US even suspected that such trying times would 
last four years. But call succeeded call, and company 
after company was formed in this county and sent forth 
until the number amounted to over 1,500 men. More 
than thirty years have passed since that war com- 
menced, almost another generation has come upon the 
stage of actiou. Many histories have been written giv- 
ing the details of battles, imprisonments, sacrifices and 
losses, which were experienced during four years of 
conflict. The Goodhue volunteers were the first 
company, we believe, which was organized to be offered 
to the Governor under his call for one regiment. 

Of the reception at St. Paul of this first company 
the Press of May 2, says: 

"They were received at the lauding by the Pioneer 
Guards, who escorted them to their temporary quarters 
in the city. An immense crowd of citizens were at the 
levee to welcome their arrival, and as they filed through 
the streets the side-walks were lined with ladies and 
gentleman, who kept up a continuous cheer as the brave 
volunteers passed along. The ranks returned the 
salutations with a hearty good will. 

"The Rod Wing brass band came up with the 
company from that place and added materially to the 
enthusiasm of the occasion. The company is more 
than full, and composed of the very bone and sinew of 
the stalwart farmers of Goodhue county." 

The movement was started for a second company as 
soon as the first had been filled in Red Wing, and in 
four days this second company was fully organized and 
ready to move to the front. 

The country towns were not idle. A patriotic 
enthusiasm seemed to spread over the county like a 



144 HISTOllY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

prairie fire. Meetings were lield in almost every school 
lijase, at which spirited allressea were delivered. Be- 
sides famishing nearly cue fifth of the first company 
Pine Island soon came to the front Avith a fall company 
named "Pine Island Rifles." Roscoe, Cannon Falls 
and other towns followed; and the good work continued, 
as the war contina^d, an I as m^n were called for to 
recruit the army. Oaly six months after the capture 
of Fort Samter, the following paragraph appeared in 
the Republican : 

" We claim the banner for Goodhue county. She 
has furnished more volaateers in proportiou to her 
population than any other county in the state. She 
has one full company in the First regiment, one in the 
Second, two in the Third, and one in the Fourth, be- 
sides being largely represented in the company of 
sharp shooters, and of cavalry furnished by the State, 
and there is now organizing a company of artillery. Is 
there another county in the West of a population of 
8,000 that has done as well?" 

The war record of this county as taken from the 
report of the Adjutant General of the State shows that 
out of eleven regiments of volunteer infantry organ- 
ized duriug the war in the State of Minnesota in all 
except the Ninth were soldiers and officers from old 
Goodliue. Representatives from this county are also 
found upon the rolls of the following bauds of soldiers, 
who participated in the conflict : 

First Mounted Rangers ; Brackett's battalion cav- 
alry; Second regiment, cavalry; Independent cavalry; 
First regiment, heavy artillery; Second battery, light 
artillery; First company of Minnesota Sharp Shooters. 

The names of all the brave men who offered their 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 145 

Bervices iu the war for the preservation of the Union 
are recorded in the archives of the State, and also in 
the published "History of Mimwsoia in the Civil Wary 
It is scarcely necessary to repeat the long list o«q the 
pages of this humble volume, of the 1,508 that enlisted 
from this county. Tliey are all well known and will be 
remembered by a grateful country. Measures are on 
foot to erect a suitable monument to the memory of 
those who served iu the war from this county, and we 
sincerely hope these measures will soon be fully 
consummated. Deeds of real bravery and heroism 
are worthy of frequent recital. Many such deeds were 
performed by onr soldiers during the four years of 
struggle for the maintenance of th3 U.iio.i of the 
United States. Two instances of rt'm:irkable bravery 
evinced by some who are from this county, we cannot 
forbear to mention. The first was at the battle of 
Corinth in October, 1862. The report says that the 
"Fifth Minnesota closed the gap which saved the day at 
Corinth." The Fifth Minnesota was at that time under 
the leadership of Col. L. F. Hubbard of this county. 
Gen. Stanley, who commanded the division to which 
this regiment was attached, accords the above credit to 
it on the field of battle. 

The following extract of a letter from Gen. Rose- 
crans, tells how the act was accomplished : 

"Col. Mower had ordered the Fifth Minnesota to 
guard the bridge across the Tuscumbia, when Avith the 
remainder of the brigade he went to help Davies. Late 
in the evening Col. Hubbard brought up his regiment 
and formed facing westward on the Mobile and Ohio 
railway, with its left near the depot, where they 
bivouacked for the night. On the next morning, when 
11 



146 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

the enemy from the north assaulted our line and forced 
it back a few hundred yards into the edge of the town, 
Col. Hubbard moving by his right flank, faced the com- 
ing storm from that quarter, and b}' his promptitude 
anticipated Gen. Stanley's order from me, to use the 
reserves of his division in meeting the enemy's charge. 
He drove back the fragments of his columns, overtak- 
ing and bringing back some pieces, without horses, of 
our reserve artillery, which the enemy had seized, and 
covering the retiring of a battery which had gone too 
far to the front. Veterans could hardly have acted 
more opportunely and effectively than did the gallant 
Fifth Minnesota on that occasion. 

"W. S. KOSECRANS." 

The second was an act of the First Minnesota at the 
battle of Gettysburg in July, 1863. It appears that 
two companies had been detached as skirmishers while 
the remaining eight companies, consisting of 262 men, 
were sent to the centre of the line just vacated by 
Sickles' advance to support battery C, of the Fourth U. 
S. artillery. The following is quoted from the history 
of the regiment : "No other troops were then near us, 
and we stood by this battery in full view of Sickles' 
battle in the Peach Orchard, half a mile to the front. 
With gravest apprehension we saw Sickles' men give 
way before the heavier forces of Lor/gstreet and Hill, 
and come back slowly at first and rallying at short 
intervals, but at length broken and in utter disorder 
rushing down the slope across the low ground and up 
the slope on our side and past our position to the rear, 
followed by a strong force. There was no organized 
force to oppose them except our handful of 262 men. 
Most soldiers in the face of the near advance of such an 



HISTOEY OP GOODHUE COUNTY. 147 

overpowering force would have caught the panic and 
joined the retreating masses. But tlie First Minnesota 
had nevdr yet retired without orders, nor deserted any 
post, and desperate as the situation seemed, and as it 
was, they stood firm against whatever might come. 

"Just then Gen. Hancock, with a single aid, rode 
up at full speed and for a moment vainly endeavored 
to rally Sickles' retreating forces. Reserves had been 
sent for but were too far away to hope to reach the 
critical position uutil it would ba occupied by the 
enemy uuless that enemy were stopped. Quickly leav- 
ing the fugitives Hancock spurred to where we stood, 
calling out as he reached us, 'What regiment is tliis?' 
'First Minnesota,' replied Col. CiJville. 'Charge 
those lines,' commanded Hancock. Everyman realized 
in an instant what that order meant, death or wounds 
to us all — the sacrifice of the regiment to gain a few 
minutes' time and save the position, and probably the 
battlefield — and every man accepted the sacrifice, 
responding to Colville's orders rapidly given. The 
regiment in perfect line, with arms at 'right shoulder 
shift,' was in a moment sweeping down the slope 
directly upon the enemy's centre. No hesitation, no 
stopping to fire, though the men fell fast at every stride, 
before the concentrated fire of the whole Confederate 
force directed upon us as soon as the movement was 
observed. Silently, without orders, and almost from 
the start, double-quick had changed to utmost speed; 
for in utmost speed lay the only hope that any of us 
would pass through that storm of lead and strike the 
enemy. 'Charge!' shouted Colville as we neared their 
first line; and with leveled bayonets at full speed, we 
rushed upon it; fortunately it was slightly disordered in 



148 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY, 

crossing a dry ruu at the foot of the slope. The men 
were never made who will stand against leveled bayonets 
coming with such momentum and evident desperation. 
The first line broke as we reached it, and rushed back 
through the second line, stopping the whole advance. 
We then poured in our first fire and availing ourselves 
of such shelter as the low bank of the dry brook 
afforded, held the entire force at bay for a considerable 
time, and until our reserves appeared on the ridge we 
had left. Had the enemy rallied quickly to a counter- 
charge its great number would have crushed us in a 
moment. But the ferocity of our onset seemed to 
paralyze them for the tim^e, and although they poured 
upon us terrible and continuous fire from the front and 
enveloping our flanks, they kept at respectful distance 
from our bayonets, until before tlie added fire of our 
fresh reserves, they began to retire, and we were 
ordered back. What Hancock had given us to do was 
done thoroughly. The regiment had stopped the 
enemy, held back its mighty force and saved the posi- 
tion. But at what a sacrifice! Nearly every ofticer was 
dead or lay weltering with bloody wounds, our gallant 
Colonel and every field ofiicer among them. Of the 262 
men who made the charge, 215 lay upon the field 
stricken down by the rebel bullets; 17 were still in line 
and not a man was missing." 

Gen. Hancock in speaking of this charge is reported 
to have said : 

"There is no more gallant deed recorded in history. 
I ordered those men in there because I saw I must gain 
five minutes time. Reinforcements were coming on 
the run, but I knew before they could reach the 
threatened point, the Confederates, unless checked, 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 149 

would seize the position. I would have ordered that 
regiment in if I had know that every man would be 
killed. It had to be done, and I was glad to find such 
a gallant body of men at hand willing to make the 
terrible sacrifice that the occasion demanded." 

Col. Colville still survives but will always bear the 
marks of that terrible charge, as will some of his brave 
comrades. 

There were many acts of bravery exhibited by the 
soldiers from this county during the war which will be 
found recorded in the work already referred to; "Minne- 
sota in the Civil and Indian Wars,'' which we hope will 
be read by all the young people of the State. 

The history of the long struggle for the preserva- 
tion of the Union, and its results in relation to human 
freedom, will be read and pondered with greater interest 
by the generations yet to be, than even by the present. 
Aud we trust that the remembrance of those stirring 
times, the noble deeds and sacrifices made by brave and 
patriotic men, will serve to perpetuate the principles of 
our government, and advance the cause of humanity until 
true liberty shall not only be proclaimed, but enjoyed, 
throughout all the earth by all the inhabitants thereof. 

Two letters written just after the first battle at Bull 
lluu, aud published in the Red Wing Repuhlican at 
the time, will call t ) remembrance some of those scenes 
and trials experienced by our soldiers during the war. 
We shall close this chapter by giving a copy of each in 
full. The writers still live and are well known to the 
majority of our citizens. 

The following letter from Captain Colville to Judge 
W. H. Welch, the father of Lieut. Welch, will be 
perused with interest: 



150 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

Washington, July 25, "(51. 
My Dear and Honored Friend: 

I have delayed writing to you up to this time since my 
arrival from the disastrous scene at Manassas, in order, if possi- 
ble, to be able to send you something definite in regard to the 
fate of your son, from soma of the stragglers coming in, having 
been cut off from the retreat and obliged to secrete themselves 
vipon or in the neighborhood of the field and slip away as 
opportunity presented. The most reliable accounts that I have 
heard, and which also corroborate the statements of our own 
boys who last saw him, lead me to believe that although prisoner 
and severely wounded he is safe and well cared for. 

I cannot give you the particulars of the fight in this, only 
that after Edward had been twice wounded, first shot through the 
arm, making a slight flesh wound, and afterwards through the 
thigh, but not dangerously, he yet refused to leave the field. 

When late in the day our flag was the only one left— every 
other regiment and the greater part of ours, with all the field 
officers, except Col. Miller, had retired or been scattered and 
dispersed— when at least one regiment had ref vised to support 
us when ordered — after one division of the regiment (companies 
A and P) together with members of other companies who, hav- 
ing lost their own, joined with us and a fragment of the Fire 
Zouaves had again and again repulsed the most overwhelming 
charges of infantry, driving them back with our galling fire, and 
had annihilated their four hundred black horsemen, not half a 
dozen returning from the charge against us— as we were still 
acting as skirmishers, spread out along the line of the wood 
where we had first been drawn up, and which position we main- 
tained through the day, Edward, at the left flank of our company, 
with half a dozen of our brave boys around him, was charged 
upon twice in quick succession by a body of the enemy's 
infantry. The first was repulsed, he killing four of them with 
his revolver, and the boys keeping up an active fire from the 
brush with their rifles. The next made immediately after in 
overwhelming numbers, surrounded him with a wall of bayonets 
and forced our boys back. H. N. Barber, John Williams, Henry 
Bevans and others were acting with Edward at the time. A 
member of Captain Wilkin's company seeing the force of the 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 151 

enemy, secreted himself and saw, after our boys had drawn Imck, 
Edward surrounded and remained concealed until the enemy 
had retired from that position, went out but could not find him, 
and therefore assured me, that he was a prisoner, though he did 
not actually see him taken. This last fact I gathered last even- 
ing. The rest of our boys being farther to the right in the brush, 
briskly engaged, were ignorant of liis fate, and all of us just 
about that time being driven from the woods, but retiring slowly 
throvigh it and keeping the pursuit in check with our fire, and 
emerging from it in time to fall in where Col. Miller with the 
flag was endeavoring to make one more stand for Minnesota, 
which he did, checking the enemy in pursuit with our fire, and 
enabling us to leave the field, though this last stand was made 
far in the rear of our position during the day and of the place 
where Edward was taken. The enemy wished and used every 
means to secure officers as prisoners. Beauregard has sent a 
message, that he will treat our dead and wounded in his hands as 
well as his own. These are all the facts I can collect at present 
bearing on Edward's fate. 

I must write to some of our friends whose boys were shot 
down by my side, and those whose fate is more uncertain than 
Edward's, among others, little Fred Miller, of whom I have been 
anxiously inquiring of every straggler that has come up. I can- 
not ascertain that anyone has seen him since he was with my- 
self and Lee retiring along the wood, just before we made the 
stand under Col. Miller. Lee was shortly after seen dying. Of 
Fred no one in my company can give any further account. 
After we left the field I saw that if we had continued a short 
distance further along the wood we would all of us have fallen in 
with an immense band of the rebels, who lay concealed in the wood 
and whence I saw them march out and form in line of battle 
after we had retired upon our reserve. I think Fred was taken 
by them. Young Harris was shot through the upper part of the 
trunk, and lived bvxt abeut fifteen minutes. [This was a mis- 
take; Harris was severely wounded, afterward discharged for 
disability.] 

Rush, one of our very best men, was shot through the neck 
and instantly killed: Garrison through the hips, a mortal 
wound; John Barrow tlirough the shoulder, his fate is uncertain; 



152 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

others severely wounded, and twelve of whom we can hear no 
account whatever, except when last seen they were lighting 
bravely. 

But you will be in no mood to look over this farther. One 
thing I can say. and I say it with pride and gratification, and I 
know you will read it with the same, however disgraceful to the 
country this may have been, however disastrous in its results, 
Minnesota has every reason to be proud of her sons; and when 
the official reports shall be published and the truth generally 
known, it will be seen that no regiment was in the field so long, 
no regiment did such terrible execution among the enemy, no 
regiment sustained greater loss, both officers and men, or 
sustained itself with more coolness, or precision, or was closer to 
the enemy's position, than the First Minnesota; and no company 
of our regiment is entitled to greater credit than company F, and 
but one that did as well, and that was Captain Wilkin's. 
Though other companies suffered so terribly in loss of l)()th 
officers and men in the first fire that they could not possibly 
remain as an organized company. Bvit I must close. 

Wm. Colville, Jr. 

The following letter from Lieut. Martin JMugiunis, 
descriptive of the scene, is as vivid a picture of a great 
battle, as can be found in history: 

Washington, July 27, 18(!1. 
Friend Hubbard: 

When in earlier days in the school reader I perused the 
account of the Indian atrocities, which gave the name of Bloody 
Run to the stream on which we fought last Sunday, I little 
dreamed that I should be an actor in a tragedy played on its 
banks, like the late bloody battle, before which the affair which 
gave to the little stream its sanguinary title sinks into insignifi- 
cance. With the particulars of our advance upon Centerville, 
the retreat of the rebels from Fairfax and the first battle at Bull 
Run you arc familiar. I will commence my narrative at six 
o'clock Saturday evening. Having tilled cur haver acks with 
three days' rations, we lay down to rest till two o'clock Sunday 
morning, the time set for the movement. It is a beautiful moon- 
light night, approaching nearer to one of our lovely moonlit 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 153 

evenings, than any night I have passed in Virginia. On hill and 
vale, for miles alcove and below us, rests the Grand Army of 
America gathering in repose strength for the battle. Not a 
breeze rustles the banners which droop over the lon^ lines of 
arms that glisten in the moonlight. The thousand dying camp- 
fires have a drowsy look, and the stillness of the evening is for 
the first time since our arrival on Thursday, unbroken by the 
rattle of the guns of the pickets and skirmishing parties of the 
two armies. All is still as death — the calm Vjefore the storm. 
Our boys are mostly sleeping, incredulous that the enemy will 
engage us tomorrow. The Captain, Lieut. Welch, and your 
correspondent in "officers' quarters" (the shade of a tree), are 
discussing the probabilities of an engagement. The Captain 
distrusts the policy, but poor Ed. and myself are certain of vic- 
tory. It cannot possibly be otherwise, and bright are our 
anticipations. Alas! Alas! What may a day bring forth? 

On Sunday morning at two o'clock, we took up our line of 
march. If you have read the World's description you know the 
general plan of the battle. One division attacking the centre, 
one attacking the enemy's right flank; and our right flank divi- 
sion marching by a circuitous route through the woods to the 
northward, to turn the enemy's left tlank. At twenty minutes 
past six the first gun was tired. At the same time we turned 
into the woods. After a fatiguing march of about ten miles, we 
emerged from the timber and got our first fair view of the battle 
ground. The enemy's position was a crescent of hills, presenting 
a front about seven miles long, and swelling back in terraces and 
plateaus, knotty knolls and knobs, rising above and behind each 
other up to the summit, which was perhaps two or three miles 
from the Run at the base of the hill. Every one of those knobs 
seemed intended for a battery, and defensive position, and every 
one we felt was put to its proper use, by that most skillful of 
engineers, Beauregard. Yet experience itself can hardly make 
us believe what I assure you to be the fact, that every piece of 
Vv'oods on those seven miles of hills contained a battery, and 
afforded thousands of rebels a shelter from which to pour on us 
a deadly fire. Every road and ravine of sheltered approach was 
commanded by their batteries, and to cover them, they had three 
men to our one. But few of the batteries were engaged until 



154 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

we emerged from the woods. This, however, seemed to be the 
signal for the tight to commence in earnest, and in ten minutes 
every cannon along the seven miles of our line, and in the 
answering batteries of the enemy, was adding its thunder notes 
to the dreadful diapason of war. Hunter's brigade of our divi- 
sion now engaged their infantry, and the rattle of musketry 
mingled with the roar of cannon. We stopped a few minutes to 
fill our canteens from the muddy run, and then dashed up the 
hill to assist the New York and Rhode Island regiments in their 
attack on the first battery. Throwing away our blankets and 
haversacks, so as to be unencumbered in the fight, we reached 
the top of the hill and closed en masse, for the charge, 
when the cheers from Hunter's brigade, as they drove on after 
the retiring enemy, told us the work was done. We feared we 
were to have no hand in the victory which seemed to await our 
arms from so auspicious a commencement. We waited not long, 
but filed "double quick'" through a wood and came to where our 
division was driving the enemy. Onward we pushed the column, 
till three batteries were taken, and the enemy, driven back on 
his second line of defenses, on the next plateau of hills, about 
half a mile to the rear of the position from which we had driven 
him. 

We formed our line of battle on the hill which he had left — 
now covered with his dead and wounded, of which our surgeon 
took as good care as of our own. We were nos^ shown our 
position as forming, with the Zouaves, the advance of the army. 
We were to have the post of honor — and as it proved, of danger 
and death— the right flank regiment of the battle. From a 
piece of woods on the next plateau above, separated from us by 
a deep ravine and small run of water, the enemy opened upon 
us a heavy fire from a masked battery. It was directly south of 
the position we held. Col. Wilcox's brigade was sent around the 
head of the ravine, to attack it from the west. The Fire 
Zouaves was Wilcox's right flank regiment. The brigade filed 
around the ravine and took their position facing to the southeast. 
On the right of the Zouaves was a heavy piece of woods, from 
which the enemy might make a descent on their flank. To 
guard against this, we were ordered to march up to it. We filed 
along the brow of the hill, the secession battery firing away at us 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 155 

with shot and shell, as if they were shooting at a target. They 
made good shots. I remember distinctly one ball that struck 
the ground about ten yards from me, and rolled harmlessly to 
where I stopped it with my foot. My left hand man picked it up 
and tossed it towards them. Most of the balls passed over our 
heads and the shells, though they tore up the ground around us, 
did not harm any of our company. Company H, however, had 
the misfortune to lose some. Our boys paid little attention to 
this cricketing, as they called it; the bowling was not good; yet I 
could not help remarking to the Captain at the involuntary 
ducking and bowing of heads along the line, whenever old 
Beaviregard sent his iron compliments roaring over us, that the 
Minnesota First was a most "demned perlite" regiment. (At 
this William smiled out of Leighton's canteen.) 

Sherman opened his battery to protect us, and threw his shot 
and shell among them so fast, that it soon diverted their atten- 
tion from our proceedings. We now crossed the ravine and run 
and formed a line of battle on the double quick. This brought 
our left flank on the Zouaves' right, and our line at right angles 
with theirs; our faces to the south and within ten feet of the 
above mentioned woods, into which, so thick was the brush, our 
gaze could not penetrate. All along the line the battle con- 
tinued to rage. Only here the woods seemed naturally still and 
innocent. No enemy could be seen. It appeared as if we had 
been taken to a place of safety — out of the fight. We began to 
think we had nothing to do. " Feel for an enemy in there. Col. 
Gorman," said the General as he rode past. Col. Gorman gave 
the word in clear tones, "Steady, steady, Minnesota; aim low; 
fire!" And we poured a thousand rifle bullets into the woods. We 
subseqviently found how dreadfully they told on the enemy. That 
volley seemed the signal to unchain Pandemonium. A masked 
battery on our left within a hundred yards, opened a terrific 
fire, and all along the line of the woods, not over thirty feet from 
us, rolled out upon us a sheet of flame and a storm of bullets, 
from the Alabama and Mississippi infantry. Terrific and 
svidden was that shower of grape and canister, ball and bombs, 
bullets and Ijursting shells, which tore through our ranks and 
raged along our line, beyond all I had ever read or imagined, and 
mowed down our gallant lads like grass before the scythe. The 



156 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

din of battle was above all sounds. A couple of our cannon, 
which came up to assist us, fired away unnoticed and unheeded. 
Unexpected and terrible as was the shock, our troops stood man- 
fully before it, and answered their fire with terrible effect. 
And now the dreadful cry ran along the ranks that we were 
"firing on our friends." This cry was raised by the secessionists 
and it is said they displayed the American flag. Be that as it 
may, the effect was awful. A momentary paralysis came upon us. 
Our firing died away. Our battery on the left fell short of 
ammunition. The enemy made a. desperate charge. Their 
musketry deepened roll upon roll, and resembled the sharp con- 
tinuous cracking of thunder. Their battery was in a sheet of 
flame and the smoke rose to blot out the sun. 

Our left flank was driven backward on the tide of fire. So 
were the Zouaves behind us; our flag was pushed down the 
slope. The cannon was taken by the enemy. The two right 
wing companies stood firm. Company A and company P never 
lost an inch of ground. We were all kneeling, not for fear, but 
for accuracy in taking aim. Our boys were cool; every shot told. 

The enemy were at one time between us and our reghuent. 
The General called on us to run to the woods. We were too busy 
to hear such an order. "Stand fast for God's sake, company 
F,'' shouted the gallant Welch, and we stood fast. "If you 
budge an inch, Mit," shout jd Sergeant Bevans to his brother, 
"I'll shoot you in your tracks." The threat was unnecessary. 
Why the enemy did not surround us and sweep us from the field, 
God in his mercy only knows. 

The enemy's battery ceased for a moment. Their own men 
were in its path now. The musketry again subsided into sharp 
rattling peals. Our left flank and the Zouaves came gallantly 
up driving the traitors like sheep before them. The flag of 
Minnesota was again in the front of the battle. For a little 
while the firing on both sides was broken and irregular. Our 
lines closed up again, and then from the hill, compact and solid, 
shaking the ground and filling the air with dust, came down the 
ttower of Virginia's chivalry -the " Black Horse (iuards.' For a 
moment their battery was still, the musketry was hushed, and 
they moved down upon us, gallantly dashingly onward. The 
Zouaves poured a deadly volley into them. Numerous saddles 



HISTOKY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 157 

were emptied and riderless horses plunged madly over fallen 
steeds and men. Now they wheeled down upon us like light- 
ning. We closed vip our ranks and poured a steady murderous 
fire into them. Horses and men fell together in masses, and not 
one-third of the dashing horsemen went back to tell the tale of 
their repulse. The ground was covered with the dead — their 
horses and accoutrements. 

The enemy now sent down on us another regiment of infantry. 
After about tifteen minutes of a skirmishing fight, we drove 
them back. They were Mississippians, I believe. Following 
our gallant and dashing Captain, who took a Mississippi Colonel 
and three men prisoners with his own hand,we chased them up into 
the woods. Nothing like regularityT)r military precision could be 
kept in such a place. Companies and regiments were broken 
up. Every man fought on his on hook. Into the woods we fol- 
lowed them and saw there the effects of our terrible fire. The 
gi'ound was covered with their dead and dying. Many of the 
latter begged pitiously for water. Our boys humanely relieved 
their wants in this respect. The enemy were every where in the 
bush. Friend and foe were intermingled and desperate hand to 
hand conflicts were going on with muskets, pistols, bayonets and 
even knives. ***** 

We drove them back bshind their entrenchments, back bo- 
hind their batteries, back to their rifle pits, back on the solid 
columns of thous mds that they still had in reserve. And those 
fresh thousands now opened upon us a terrible fire in front. 
Their batteries raked our flanks and our laggard friends who had 
just made out to reach the position we had left, poured a galling 
fire upon us from behind. This position was terrible. Our men 
fell with terrible rapidity. Rush's neck was carried away with 
a grape shot. Jimmy Underwood fell with a rifle ball in the 
forehead; Salle was pierced through the heart; Lee fell with a 
broken leg; Scofield was wounded in the neck; Barrow had 
previously been carried otf the ground; the gallant Garrison fell 
severely wounded, and McKinley received a ball in the hip at 
nearly the same moment; Childs was wounded on the head. All 
that are now missing were with us there. Noble friend Welch 
and brave little Fred Miller among the foremost. What is their 
fate, God alone knows, but there they last stood with us and 



158 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

fought like heroes for God, our country, and the honor of our 
home. 

It was not in the retreat, not with our backs to the foe, not 
amid the ranks of the panic stricken cowards, who scared at the 
sight of a runaway team, flying towards Washington, while we 
waited anxiously for them to come to support us in the positions 
we had so desperately fought for and so gallantly won. No, it 
was here inside the enemy's lines — at the mouth of their cannon, 
whose fiery, sulphurous breath was on our cheeks, and shut from 
our eyes the blue dome of heaven— whose vomit of balls and 
bursting shells tore up the green earth around us; whose terrible 
thunders shook the solid hills; at the highest point that was 
reached on the hills between friend and foe, where the torrent 
of death poured in ujjon us on all sides. In this focus of balls 
and bullets, in this hailstorm of fire and carnage, Red Wing, 
Goodhue county, left her dead. 

We fought our way out of the woods as best we could, drag- 
ging with us the prisoners we had taken. Away in a sheltered 
hollow we looked around us. Neither Capt. Colville, nor Capt. 
Wilkin, nor Lieut. Welch, nor Sergt. Clark, nor Sergt. Bevans 
had come out of the woods. We supposed they were dead. 
Sergeants Bruce and Harris were with us. We afterward learned 
that the others had niissed us, by bearing further to the right. 
Lieut. Welch was not with them. Wilkin, who was with him, 
said he was unhurt when he left in the brush. Dave Marble, 
however, says he saw him wounded and refusing to be carried 
off the ground. Our only hope is that he was taken prisoner as 
tho secessionists had orders to take all officers uninjured — prob- 
ably to facilitate exchange. Col. Gorman was again rallying the 
remains of the regiment just below us. What were left of our 
company rallied around the Wabasha flag — you know we have 
none of our own — and with about forty from other companies, 
and Col. Miller at ovir head, we carried it to the top of the hill 
driving back the traitors who had followed us. It was in this 
rally that Charley Harris was severely wounded. We pressed our 
way to the top of the knoll. The enemy were now entirely silent 
in the woods. We waved our flag in triumph and gave three 
cheers. No troops came to support us — the enemy were pour- 
in"- in thousands of fresh men— the brigade on our left gave way 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 159 

before the over-powering force — our line was broken through 
the centre — the enemy could easily have surrounded us — the 
day, the battle, all was lost. 

In obedience to orders, sullenly and gloomily we took our 
backward march, carrying off our wounded. The pelting bullets 
that the advancing enemy poured down on us, we regarded with 
the indifference of despair. Several of our men fell, or at least 
they were missing when we reached the hospital. Col. Gorman 
had succeeded in getting the regiment into something like order. 
We took our place in the battalion, and in pretty good shape fell 
back onCenterville. Here Captain Colville, Sergeant Clark and 
our boys up to the number of sixty came in; eight more met us 
at Alexandria, which left us sixty-eight, out of ninety with 
which we went into the fight — a loss of one-fourth in "killed, 
wounded and missing." We arrived in Centerville just twenty- 
four hours after the time mentioned at the commencement of 
this narrative. What an eventful day! You probably know ere 
this the names of our lost. I will send another letter soon. For 
the present I remain, Yours truly, 

Maginnis. 

The material interests of the couuty suffered greatly 
during the progress o£ war. Taxes were increased and 
of necessity there was a constant drain upon the 
resources of all who remained at home. Help for the 
cultivation of the soil was scarce. Prices were high. 
Private enterprise stood still. Public improvements 
were hindered. All eyes were turned toward the south, 
and all hearts beat anxiously for the result of the 
struggle. Bat of all the trials endured and losses 
sustained, in these years of conflict, none wore to ba 
compared with the loss of lives of those who went out 
never to return. 

"Death loves a shining mal-k."' 
How many a promising young man laid down his 
life for his country at that time! 

Out of those who left us, one of the most prominent 



160 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

of the promising young men was A. Edward Welch, 
Major of the Fourtli regiment of Minnesota volunteers, 
who died at Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 1, 1864. His body 
was soon after brought to Red Wing for interment. 
Funeral services were held at Christ Church, conducted 
by Rector, afterward Bishop, Welles. 

We copy a portion of his remarks on the occasion: 

God alone knows the heart of man. He only can untangle 
the web of human motives and detect the hidden springs of 
human action; but as far as can be judged by us, his fellows, no 
youth has ever drawn his sword in his country's cause, under the 
insijiration of a purer love of country, than Major Welch. 
Whatever may have been his original temperament, it is certain 
that upon his first battle field he evinced the possession of a 
perfect courage. In siege and battle, in the deadly air of 
pestilential prisons, in the long exhaustion which comes from 
protracted labor and suffering, his was the courage which gave 
equanimity to a brave and manly character. It wrings our 
hearts that throvigh such sorrows as burden us today, a character 
so loving, so patient, so beloved, comes to be truly known. I 
have abstained intentionally so from any reference to his private 
character, in this imperfect sketch. 

As we gather around the bier we do not seek to forget the 
earnest Christian youth, the loving son, the affectionate brother; 
but chiefly would we remember the brave, noble hearted soldier 
of his country. This concourse of citizens, these badges of 
mourning, betoken public grief. The flag is furled above him, 
which he would gladly have shielded from dishonor with his 
life. The sword rests upon his coffin, which in his hand would 
never have been used but bravely and well. 

It may not be inappropriate for us briefly to review the 
military life of Major Welch. 

When treason first leveled its shafts at Fort Sumter, in April, 
18G1, he was one of the first to spring to arms at the call of the 
President for troops. His many excellent qualities were 
recotniized by the brave men who then rallied around the flag, 
and when the flrst company was filled, he was unanimously 
elected first lieutenant. At Bull Run he was among the brav- 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 161 

est of brave men who fought in the disastrous battle, was 
wounded and taken prisoner, and for months contined in various 
southern dungeons. Just previous to his exchange, he was 
appointed Major of the Fourth regiment. While our borders 
were being devastated by a ruthless band of Indians, he was put 
in command of a detachment of the Third regiment, then on the 
frontier, and was engaged in the battle of Wood Lake, where he 
was severely wounded in the knee by a musket ball. When but 
partially recovered he joined his regiment Ijefore the defenses of 
Vicksburg, and participated in that iiiemorable siege, being 
again wounded by a piece of a shell during a desperate assault 
upon the enemy s works. Since then, until just previous to his 
death, he has accompanied his regiment, being always on hand 
when duty called. 

The following named residents of this county liave 
served the State and Territory of Minnesota from time 
to time, in the several impoitant otttces indicated : 

W. H. Welch, Chief Justice, fr im 1853-58. 

Wm. W. Phelps, Member of Congress, 1858-59. 

Charles McCliire, Judge District Cjurt, seven years. 

H. B. Wilson, Superintendent Pul)lic Instruction, 
five years. 

Wm. Colvill, Attorney General, 1866-68. 

Lucius F. Hubbard, Governor, five years. 

S. P. Jenaison, Secretary of State, four. years. 

Hans Mattson, Secretary of State, six years. 

O. M. Hall, Member of Congress, 1891 and present. 

W. C. Williston, Judge First Judicial District, 1891, 
and at present time. 

Charles McClure and Aaron G. Hudson were dele- 
gates to the convention which framed the State Consti- 
tution in 1857. 

List of Legislative representatives from Goodhue 
county: 

12 



162 



HISTOEY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 



TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE. 

COUNCIL. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 



1854. William Freeborn. 
1856. William Freeborn. 



1854. W. W. Sweney. 
1856. Charles Gardner. 



STATE LEGISLATURE. 



1857. 
A. G. Hudson. 



1858-59. 

R. N. McLaren. 



1861. 

R. N. McLaren. 



1863. 

Charles McClure. 

1864. 
J. A. Thacher. 

1865. 
J. A. Thacher. 



1867. 

Warren Bristol. 



1868. 
Warren Bristol. 



1869. 

Warren Bristol. 



1870. 

Charles Hill. 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVKS. 

H. L. Bevans, 
Joseph Peckham, 
C. W. Libby, 
Hans Hanson, Jr. 

L. H. Garrard, 
I. C. Stearns, 
R. H. Knox, 
L. K. Aaker. 

J. E. Chapman, 
C. R. White, 
J. A. Thacher, 
L. K. Aaker. 

J. A. Thacher, 
A. Hilton. 

S. S. Grannis, 
J. M. Gates. 

J. B. Locke, 
Wm. Colvill, Jr., 
Sylvester Dickey, 
Warren Bristol. 

L. K. Aaker, 
J. F. Mitchell, 
A. B. Wilson. 

E. G. Comstock, 
K. K. Finseth, 
J. F. Pingrey. 

L. K. Aaker, 
A. J. Grover, 
C. C. W^ebster. 

John Miller, 
Orrin Densmore, 
Giles Slocum. 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 



163 



1871. 

Charles Hill. 



1872. 

L. F. Hubbard, 

Giles Slocuiu. 



187.3. 

L. F. Hubbard, 
J. W. Peterson. 



1874. 

L. F. Hubbard, 
J. W. Peterson. 



1875. 
L. F. Hubbard, 
A. K. Finseth. 



1876. 

W. C. Williston, 
A. K. Finseth. 



1877. 
W. C. Williston, 
A. K. Finseth. 



1878. 
J. C. McClure, 
A. K. Finseth. 



1879. 
H. B. Wilson, 
J. A. Thaeher. 



Orrin Densmore, 
T. G. Pearson, 

A. P. Jackson. 

J. C Pierce, 
J. Finnev, 
T. P. Kellett, 
G. K. Norsving, 
John Stanton. 

W. C. Williston, 
H. F. Armstrong, 
T. P. Kellett, 
G. K. Norsving, 
Arthur Flom. 

W. C. Williston, 
Leland Jones, 
C. R. White, 
N. J. Ottun, 
John Stanton. 

Robert Dekin, 
R. Kruger, 
C. H. Bosworth, 
N. J. Ottun, 

F. Peterson. 

Charles R. Brink, 
R. Kruger, 

G. Westman, 
Ole P. Hulel)ack, 

B. C. G rover. 

J. Finney, 
H. B. Wilson. 

B. C. Grover, 
O. P. Huleback, 
T. G. Pearson. 

Wm. Colvill, 
N. C. Crandall, 
S. C. Wickey, 
P. N. Langemo, 
S. G. Holland. 

C. R. Brink, 
Perry George, 
S. C. Holland, 
P. N. Langemo, 
J, A. Bowman. 



164 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 



1881. 
H. B. Wilson, 
F. I. Johnson. 



1883. 

F. I. Johnson, 
M. S. Chandler. 

1885. 

F. I. Johnson, 
O. M. Hall. 

1887. 

A. K. Finseth, 
Peter Nelson. 

1889. 

A. K. Finseth, 
Peter Nelson. 

1891. 

J. W. Peterson. 



F. W. Hoyt, 
Francis Tether, 
H. P. Hulebaek, 
Charles Hill, 

A. A. Flom. 

H. P. Hulebaek, 
M. Doyle, 

G. P. Sidener. 

O. K. Naeseth, 
S. G. Holland, 
J. W. Peterson. 

O. K. Naeseth, 
O. Nordvold, 
J. A. Anderson. 

W. E. Poe, 
S. B. Barteau, 
F. W. Hoyt. 

W. F. Cross, 
Ole Huset, 
M. Doyle. 



The principal couuty offices have been filled by the 
following named : 

Auditors — E. Norelius, in 1858, but did not qualify; 
Jonathan Going appointed to fill vacancy. Hans Matt- 
son, F. Joss, S. J. Willard, C. C. Webster, E. H. Druse, 
Carl N. Lien. 

Sheriffs— P. S. Fish, H C. HofPmau, M. S. Chan- 
dler, H. F. Armstrong, F. A. Carlson, A. F. Andersen. 

Treasurers— M. Sorin, James Lawther, Thomas F. 
Towne, Chas. Connoly, Orrin Densmore, W. P. Brown, 
Ole Hegna, L. A. Hancock, D. B. Scofield, Hiram 
Howe. 

Judges of Probate— W. D. Chillson, O. F. Smith, 
Wm. Ladd, Leman Bates, Orrin Densmore, C. G. Rey- 
nolds, Robert Deakin, N. O. Werner, O. D. Anderson. 



HISTORY or GOODHUE COUNTY. 165 

Eegisters of Deeds — J. W. Hancock, L. F. Hub- 
bard, C. C. Webster, T. B. McCord, Cbas. McClure, 
Chas. Ward, C. H. Jobuson, J. H. Webster. 

Clerks of Court— P. Sandtord, Wra. Colvill, J. 
Going, Wm. W. Clark, J. F. Pingrey, liobert Deukin, 
Hans Johnson, Albert Johnson. 

County Attorneys — P. Sandford, J. F. Pingrey, J. 
H. Parker, W. Bristol, J. C. McClure, C. N. Akers, F. 
M. Wilson, S. J. Nelson. 

Superintendents of Schools— J. W. Hancock, H. 
B. Wilson, J. F. Pingrey, A. E. Engstrom. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



EDUCATIONAL. 



Private schools were taught iu several places before 
the county was organized. The first school among the 
whites was conducted by Mrs. H. L. Bevans at Red 
Wing, in the summer of 1853. Mr. Bevans, her hus- 
band, built and opened a store on Main street that year. 
His family occupied one of the old Indian mission 
houses at the time, and Mrs. Bevans taught her school 
in the same building. She had less than a dozen scholars. 
Some few Indian families, who still lingered in the 
vicinity, sent children to her school. 

The next year there were several similar schools in 
private houses where settlers had established their 
homes near each other, so as to render a school prac- 
ticable. 

The first school district was organized in Red Wing 
in the fall of 1854: under the provisions of the territorial 
school law. A board of trustees was elected under the 
name of "Trustees of District No. 1, Goodhue County." 
The boundaries of this district were left undefined till 
the year 1855. The county then being organized, the 
commissioners who had the authority to do so, set off 
the boundaries as follows: "District No. 1 inckides that 
portion of the county between Hay Creek and Potter's 
Creek, bordering on tiie Mississippi river and extending 
back from the same six miles." The district was six 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 167 

miles long and five miles wide. The same board set off 
and gave boundaries to eight more school districts be- 
fore the close of that year. 

The first building erected expressly for school pur- 
poses was in the district No. 1 before mentioned. It 
stood at the corner of Fourth street and East avenue; 
was built wholly by voluntary subscription; a very 
modest little building and was the only public school 
house in Red Wing for ten years. As the population 
of the town increased and more teachers were necessary, 
other rooms were rented for school accommodations 
until there were five public schools and several private 
or parish schools in session summer and winter in the 
town of Red Wing. In 1865, immediately after the 
close of the war, the first large brick school house was 
erected. Four school rooms were completed in Decem- 
ber of that year. The rooms in the second story were 
completed in the following spring and all were soon 
filled with scholars. 

Some other towns in the county had built comforta- 
ble school houses before the war. Frontenac village, in 
the township of Florence, had very early a neat frame 
school house, located in a pleasant situation. This 
school house was the only one in the county for some 
years, which was adorned by a belfry with a bell at- 
tached. Cannon Falls village had a large frame school 
house early in the sixties. It was well arranged, having 
two good sized school rooms, and a separate room for 
recitations by a third teacher. By the year 1864, the 
town of Burnside had two very neat school buildings. 
Vasa, Stanton and Leon had each built a good country 
school house the same year. The villages of Pine 
Island, Kenyon and Zumbrota, built for the accommo- 



168 HISTOItY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

dation of their school chihlren suitable buildings soon 
after the close of the civil war. They had previously 
used rented rooms. 

The first visitation of the schools by a county super- 
intendent Avas made in the summer of 1864. In his 
report he states that no provision had been made for 
ventilntion in more than six school rooms ; and that he 
finds children compelled to sit for hours in rooms where 
the air is so impure that a stranger from outside per- 
ceives it at once on entering. 

In a certain district he found the school in session 
in a large barn. This room was well ventilated, yet it 
was a question whether the air was at all times health- 
ful. In the basement were the stables, where a large 
number of horses and cattle were kept at night. Two 
long benches without any rests for the back, were the 
only seats provided for the scholars while studying 
their lessons. The large folding doers for entrance of 
loads of hay, Avere kept open during school hours to 
afford light. Flocks of ducks, chickens and pigs occu- 
pied the front yai d, and a portion of the teacher's time 
was spent in keeping the intruders from entering. The 
noise of these animals was of course more amusing than 
profitable for the children. 

Another school was found in a room of a private 
dwelling. The room was nearly ten feet square. A 
large table occupied the centre; the scholars were 
seated around three sides of it, their backs against the 
walls of the room. There were nineteen scholars and 
their teacher. The room was well packed. A chair 
was brought from another room to accommodate the 
visitor. This chair was i)laced on a part of the teacher's 
standing room, by the side of the table, and near the 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 109 

door. Every time the door was opened for going out 
or coming in, the chairman was obliged to rise and in- 
cline his chair. 

Another school was kept in a "lean-to" of a log 
house. This "lean-to" was the summer kitchen. Dur- 
ing school hours, the family, of course, confined them- 
selves to the limits of the main building. This school 
room was better vejtilated than the one last mentioned. 
It had been built with lumber not well seasoned. The 
peculiar feature of the room was the seating arrange- 
ment. Often we see large blocks of unshapely wood, 
hard to split on account of knots, lying about a wood 
yard. It was such timber that had been placed on the 
floor, at proper distances, to support boards which were 
laid across them for the children to sit on in this school 
room. And yet these children seemed to make the best 
of the situation. Their teacher was pleasing in her 
manner, industrious and faithful in her duties. 

Oftener than in any other situation the county 
schools were found in some log cabin which had served 
for a house, while pre-empting a claim of 160 acres of 
land, and then abandoned by the builder. In one case 
of this kind, the house stood alone on the prairie, which 
was somewhat rolling, and entirely out of sight 
of any neighboring house. There Avas a large 
square opening, left for a window, on one side. 
About the middle of the roof there was a smaller 
opening, which had been used to accommodate a stove 
pipe. These were used to let in the light. There was 
also a door at one corner of the building, where light 
could come in when the weather was pleasant. The 
door itself had neither hinges nor fastenings. The 
young lady teacher had plenty of exercise in removing 



170 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

and replacing the door in windy weather. She said in 
answer to some inquiries of the superintendent that she 
was obliged to place a large prop against the door often- 
times to keep out the wind, and in case of a hard shower, 
"we huddle together in the dryest corner." 

One school was found occupying the chamber or 
attic of a small log cabin ; the family occupying at the 
same time the room below. The scholars and teacher 
had to go up a rude stair case, after passing through the 
kitchen, to get into the school room. The visitor had 
to get there the same way. He found there was great 
danger of bumping his head against the rafters. The 
scholars were not very tall, and the teacher had learned 
how to stoop ; the visitor had the worst of it. But who 
would tJiink of finding a public school in such a queer 
place at the present day"? 

The facts in relation to these primitive school rooms 
are not given for the sake of finding fault. They were 
the best that the times could afPord, and these facts are 
recorded in order to show that progress has been made. 

Very little advance was made in the interests of ed- 
ucation during the war. Since that time evident prog- 
ress has been made in every school district, especially 
in respect to the buildings, which are now generally 
convenient and well furnished for school purposes. We 
intend to present our readers with the pictures of both 
a former and latter rural district school house. The 
former was the one built before the war, the latter since 
the war ended. 

The report of the county superintendent in Novem- 
ber, 1861, contains the following statements: "Eighty- 
seven districts have reported ; although there are nom- 
inally one hundred in the county, only this number are 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 171 

organizecl. lu fact two of these have commenced hav- 
ing a school quite lately. There are not children enough 
of the proper age to attend school in some of the un- 
organized districts, to make a school necessary. In 
others there is great difficulty in locating a school house, 
so as to accommodate all. We regret to say that in a 
few of the distiicts yet unorganized, there is not yet suf- 
ficient interest taken to hold a meeting for the election 
of school officers. There are only six really good build- 
ings for common schools in the whole county, and not 
one of them is inclosed by a fence, or surrounded by 
shade trees. Many are destitute of out-buildings, defi- 
cient in their internal arrangements, and are quite often 
destitute of blackl)oards, maps, globes, etc. The whole 
number of school houses owned by the districts is fifty- 
six. Thirty-four are frame, and twenty-two are log 
buildings." 

At that time there were but two districts in the coun- 
ty under the necessity of having more than one teacher 
each. These were Red Wing with five and Cannon 
Falls with two. The total schoolable population report- 
ed was 8,714 ; the whole attendance in the public schools 
2,450. A few private schools were in session a part of 
the time in the largest towns. 

In order to show what progress has been made in 
our public school interests since that first report was 
made in 1S64, we give the following from the county 
superintendent's report for 1892 : 

"The whole number of school buildings is 150. Four 
of these are of stone, seven of brick, and one hundred 
and thirty-nine frame. The number of scholars in at- 
tendance upon all the schools, 7,881. Five districts 
have more than one teacher employed, to-wit : Red 



172 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

Wing has, including the superintendent, 34 ; Cannon 
Falls, 7 ; Zumbrota, 7 ; Pine Island, 5 ; Kenyon, 5. 
Fifty districts have free text books. One hundred and 
thirty-five have district libraries." 

Private and denominational schools have also been 
established in this county from its beginning, which 
have contributed much towards a higher and broader 
education than could be provided for in the common 
schools. The pioneer institution of this kind was the 
Hamline University, which was originally located in 
Red Wing under the patronage of the M. E. church. 
Through the influence of Rev. David Brooks, L. L. 
Hamline, D. D., a bishop of the church, donated $25,000 
towards the establishment of this institution. 

The preparatory department of the University was 
opened by Rev. Jabez Brooks, A. M., as principal, on 
the 16th of November, 1854, with thirty-three students. 
The room occupied was in the second story of a store- 
building kept by Smith, Hoyt & Co., at the foot of 
Broadway. This was the only school kept in Red Wing 
until the following summer. 

The erection of a University building was commenced 
in August, 1855, and completed so as to be opened for 
students in January, 1856. This building was located 
on the ground now called the city park. This school 
had both preparatory and collegiate departments, and 
was continued here till about the year 1869, when it was 
removed to its present location near St. Paul. 

The Red Wing Collegiate Institute Avas incorporated 
in 1870, with the following board of officers : L. F. 
Hubbard, president; C. C. Webster, secretary ;- F. A. 
Cole, treasurer ; James Lawther, Peter Daniels, L. F. 



HISTOEY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 173 

Hubbard, C. C. Webster, F. A. Cole and W. P. Hood, 
directors. 

Two fine buildings were erected at a cost of $17,000, 
on grounds donated by Edward Murphy, situated on 
College Bluff, and a school admitting pupils of both 
sexes was continued for about three years, under the 
management of W. P. Hood as principal. The property 
was then sold to satisfy a mortgage. It was soon after 
purchased by the Hauges Norwegian Evangelical Synod, 
and deeded to a board of directors consisting of Hans 
Marcuson, " Andrew EUingson, and others. It was 
opened to the public under the name of Red "Wing 
Seminary, September 17, 187^), with an able corps of 
instructors. Seventy students availed themselves of its 
privileges the first year, and the number has steadily 
increased every year until the present, 1892, the number 
enrolled is one hundred and fifty-two. Classes are 
formed in two departments, preparatory and theological. 
The aim of this school is : First, to furnish a general 
christian culture ; second, to prepare young men for the 
ministry. On a religious basis instruction is given in 
the practical branches necessary for good citizenship ; 
and through a special course, prepares young men, who 
may feel a call, to labor as ministers in the Norwegian 
Lutheran church. Thirty-three have already graduated 
from the theological department of this institution. 

Parochial schools are maintained in connection with 
the Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches throughout 
the county. Some of these schools are open only dur- 
ing the vacation of the public schools ; others are kept 
open during nine months of the year. There is a kin- 
dergarten branch connected with the parish school of 
Christ church in Red Wing. 



174 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

The Villa Maria convent, a school for girls, under 
the auspices of the Roman Catholic church is situated 
iu the town of Florence. The main building was com- 
pleted in 1890. The following description of this insti- 
tution appeared in a Red Wing paper soon after the 
dedication : 

" The convent is situated immediately below old 
Frontenac, known far and wide as a most delightful 
summer resort. A more beautiful site than the one 
selected for this grand structure could not possibly have 
been found. The hand of nature, as it were, has here 
brought together her most exquisite designs of land and 
water, blending the beautiful, the sublime, and the gro- 
tesque, in one harmonious whole. 

" The site of the convent is exactly that occupied 
more than a century and a half ago by the last of the 
old French Catholic missionary forts of the upper Mis- 
sissippi. The grounds, consisting of 110 acres, were 
donated by Gen. Israel Garrard, who has spent a for- 
tune and a great portion of his life in laying out and 
beautifying the already naturally beautiful Frontenac. 
The General noticed the rapid growth of the school con- 
ducted at Lake City by the Ursuliue nuns and appreciat- 
ing their inability to accomplish their greatest results 
in their rather crowded quarters, offered in 1885 a tract 
of land for the efection of a more pretentious institu- 
tion. This was accepted with gratitude, and plans were 
soon devised for the erection of the largest educational 
structure iu the Northwest. The foundations were laid 
iu 1888 and since then the work of construction has 
gone on rapidly, until to-day Villa Maria, the House of 
Mary, stands practically completed and dedicated to the 
cause of the Roman Catholic church. 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 175 

" The building is cruciform in shape and has a length 
of 301 feet and a width of UO feet, exclusive of porches. 
It is four stories high, and the north end is surmounted 
by a tower which lifts a golden cross 150 feet above the 
surface of the ground. 

"A paved driveway running in from the main road 
leads to the main entrance at the northwest corner 
of the building. Ascending a stairway which leads 
from this, the main hall is reached. This is lighted 
to the top of the third floor by large, stained glass 
windows, above which is a handsome dome encircled by 
a lintel cornice. 

" To the left are two parlors separated by sliding 
doors, permitting them to be used as one. The office of 
the Mother Superior is situated to the right, and direct- 
ly back of this is a chamber designed for guests, pro- 
vided with bath and toilet rooms. The infirmary has 
toilet rooms attached. South of this is a broad porch. 
The dormitory, which is also on the first floor, is one 
immense room, U0xl25 feet, which has been curtained 
off into small rooms containing each a cot bed and a 
wardrobe. Through this large room passes a ventilat- 
ing chimney. A toilet room, fitted up with modern im- 
provements, is placed south of the dormitory. In the 
east wing is the dining hall, adjoining which is the 
kitchen, with a mammoth range and two pantries. A 
room is also set aside here where children may receive 
their parents. The opposite wing is devoted exclusively 
to the private use of the nuns. 

" The stairway to the second floor, seven feet wide, 
and finished in antique oak, leads to a large room de- 
signed for a library and for a scientific collection. This 
is above the parlors on the first floor, and of the same 



176 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

size. Above the dormitory is the recreation hall, and a 
study hall comes next. On the second tloor are also ten 
music and recreation rooms partitioned off by sliding 
glass doors. 

"On entering the third floor one finds to the left the 
art room. It is beautifully finished in frescoes, is well 
lighted, and has a moulded cone cornice. On the op- 
posite side of the hall is the chapel, the wood work and 
seats of which are finished in antique oak. It is 41x1)0 
feet, with arched 23-foot ceiling, and has a seating ca- 
pacity of 500. There are frescoed walls and ceilings. 
There are three altars, and a fine vocalian pipe organ. 
The chapel is lighted by stained glass windows. 

"Adjoining the chapel and separated by a narrow 
hallway are two reception rooms and a private chapel, 
beautifully decorated. A community room and the con- 
vent proper occupy the rest of this floor. On each of 
the three first floors is a corridor two hundred feet long. 

"On the fourth floor is an immense water tank sup- 
plying the building with water and also serving as a 
protection against fire. The building is heated by hot 
water and will be lighted by electricity or gas. In the 
northeast corner of the foundation is a stone, bearing 
the inscription : 

"'Israel Garrard, nobis Benefacieenti Gratulantes 
Soc. Urs. Felice.' 

" The building is of wood and cost about $100,000. 
F. T. Evans, assisted by O. 1). Prescott, has ably super- 
intended the construction. The course of study at Villa 
Maria will include all the branches of a thorough aca- 
demic course. Lessons will also be given in painting, 
drawing, music, and all kinds of handiwork, for which 
the Ursuline sisters have gained a wide reputation." 



HISTOKY OP GOODHtfE COUNTY. 177 

Beeman's Actual Business College, an institution 
for pupils of both sexes in which to obtain a knowledge of 
book-keeping, type-writing, shorthand and other special 
qualifications for practical business, was established by 
incorporation in 1SS7. This school is largely attended 
by students from distant towris, having gained a wide 
reputation under the management of Prof. W. L. Beeman 
and a corps of able assistants. 

The Red Wing Commercial College and School of 
Shorthand, under the management of ]^[essrs. Curtis 
& Eosenberger, was opened Monday, September 5, 
1S92, some fifteen pupils in attendance the first day. 
This college is located in what is known as the Glad- 
stone Hall, the third story of Gl.idstono lilock, 
Avhich has been neatly and fitly prepareil for the use of 
this school. Tiie two gentlemen in charge are exper- 
ienced teachers in this line, and if they meet with the 
encouragement they expect, will build up a first-class 
commercial college in Bted Wing. 

Lutheran Ladies Seminary. This institution has been 
incorporated within the present year under the direc- 
tion of a board of trustees, of which Rev. K. Bjorgo is 
president. A site has been secured on a fine plateau 
of ground in the western j^art of the City of Red Wing 
where the work on the foundation for the main build- 
ing was begun in July, the present year, and will be 
completed in September in 18^3. The estimated cost of 
this building is $40,000. This school is designed to 
furnish a complete education for young ladies in all 
those branches taught in our highest institutions of 
learning. It is expected that it will be completely furn- 
ished with able professors and teachers and be open to 
students in the fall of 1893. 



178 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

The Orphan's Home. The only iustitatiou iu the 
county, established especially for the benefit of orphan 
children, is in Vasa. It was begun in the year 1865 
by Rev. E. Norelius, the pioneer Lutheran preacher, 
A small one story building served all purposes for the 
first ten years. In 1875 the institution was placed under 
the care of the Minnesota Conference of the Augustana 
Synod. The following year a two story building of 
commodious size was erected on a lot containing ten 
acres of land, situated a little in rear of the present 
large brick church. 

This second building was completely destroyed by 
a cyclone on the 3rd day of July, 1879. So violent was 
the storm that seven of the inmates were instantly killed 
and a number of others badly bruised. Pieces of the 
children's clothing and bedding were carried over the 
river into Wiscoushi some eight or ten miles distant. 
Another building of larger dimensions was soon com- 
menced and completed that year, for the accommoda- 
tion of orphans, at a cost of $3,000. This sum was 
raised by benevolent people in Vasa and Red Wing and 
by the Synod at large. More land has been purchased 
from time to time, and the institution is now in pos- 
session of 124: acres. This gives to the boys, who are 
of the proper age, opportunity for healthful exercise 
and a training in the habits of industry. The girls are 
also trained in the art of domestic economy. 

A new building has been added in the year 1890, 
at a cost of $1,500, as a dormitory for the boys. 

The annual expenses are now $3,000, which comes 
from the free will offerings of the conference. One 
school teacher is employed by the year at a salary of 
$500. The Superintendent and his wife, who live at 



filSTORY OP GOODHUE COUNTY. l79 

the Home, having all the care of the childreD, receive 
$450 per anuiim including their own board. 

This institution is carried on upon the principles 
of the Christian home, and has proved a great blessing 
to many an ophan child. The offi(!ers of the board of 
control are; Rev. J. Fremling, president; P. A. Peter- 
son, secretary; J. W. Petersou, treasurer. 

State Reform School. This institution was re- 
moved from Ramsey county and permanently estab- 
lished in Goodhue county, near Red Wing, in 1891. 

Six large buildings have been erected on a beauti- 
ful plateau which borders the great valley of the Miss- 
issippi. The outer walls of these structures nre brick 
and stone, with slated roofs; and for be.iuty of architec- 
ture are probably second to none in the State. Sepa- 
rate buildings are provided in order that the inmates 
can be divided into families of 50 or more, thus lessen- 
ing the labor of caring for them and intlaeucing their 
minds in the right direction. Each family is in charo-e 
of an overseer and his wife, the whole being under the 
management of Supt. J. W. Brown and his wife. There 
are about thirty-five officials connected Avith the estab- 
lislnncnt. At present there are about three humlred 
children cared for and instructed here, the greater 
number of whom are boys. 

The girls occupy a building by thems?lves, at a little 
distance from the others, where they learn sewing and 
other appropriate industries, and also the common school 
branches of education. 

Each building is provided with its school room and 
teacher. In the main building are the officers', reception 
rooms, and rooms for the Superintendent's family. 
There is an annex to the rear of the main building in 



180 HISTOKY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

which there is a large diuiug hall which is used also 
for a chapel. 

The boys have organized a band of music, the mem- 
bers of which have attained such proficiency that their 
services are frequently called for on public occasions. 
Singing is taught in all the schools. 

Four hundred and fifty acres of land are devoted to 
the uses of the institution. Besides farming and gar- 
dening by the boys various other industries are carried 
on, such as carpentry, wood-turning, shoemaking, black- 
smithing, tailoring, and chair-making. 

No one can visit the place and observe the work 
being done, without being convinced that the money 
appropriated by the State for this institution is well 
expended. It is reported on good authority that ninety 
per cent of those who receive their training here be- 
come useful citizens. 



CHAPTEE XV. 



RED WING. 



The beauty of the location of Red Wing has so often 
been described by visitors and tourists that it is unnec- 
essary to dwell upon that feature here. 

The first settlement of the place by the whites was 
made in the year 185'2. Those who came before that 
year were either traders or missionaries to the Indians. 
The first missionaries here were from Switzerland, 
Samuel Denton and Daniel Gavin. These men built 
two substantial log houses, and labored for nine years, 
from 1837 to 1846,. The next band of missionaries 
were sent here by the American Board of Commis- 
sioners for Foreign Missions. John Aiton came in 
1848, and J. W. Hancock ia the spring following. The 
former left in 1850; the latter remained till the Indians 
removed, and is here still. In the autumn of 1850, a 
Mr. Snow from St. Paul, having procured a license to 
trade with the Indians, built a trading house of logs 
near the river, using the upper part for a residence, and 
in the basement kept Indian goods for sale. Mr. Cal- 
vin Potter came the uexfc year and entered into partner- 
ship with Mr. Snow. The latter died of cholera soon 
after, while on a trip to St. Paul. Mr. Snow's family 
soon sold their interest to Mr. Potter and left the place. 
Mr. John Bush had been here to heli^ the Indians about 
farming for several years, and when the news came that 
the land was soon to be sold to the United States Gov- 
ernment, he and Mr. Potter staked out claims which in- 



182 HISTOEY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

eluded the laud now occupied by the city. Benjamin 
Young, a French halfbreed, also liad a claim in the west 
part of the city. These claims were all made early in 
the spring of 1852, and before the news arrived that the 
Sioux treaty had been ratified. 

Bash and Potter very soon sold their claim rights 
to Wra. Freeborn. Mr. Young sold his to Dr. W. W. 
Sweney. The honor of selecting Red Wing as the site 
for a town belongs to Mr. Freeborn and Dr. Sweney. 
Mr. Freeborn was frequently on the ground and Dr. 
Sweeny moved his family here that season. James 
McGinnis, John Day and E. C. Stevens made claims 
also in the vicinity that year. McGinnis and Day 
moved their families here also. 

A raft of lumber from the saw mills at Stillwater 
was floated down and taken out of the river here 
for building purposes and two young men were em- 
ployed as carpenters during the winter of 1852-58. 
These wore Hiram and Joseph Middaugh. They pre- 
pared the timber and finishing portion for a hotel, 
which was erected and made ready for the reception of 
guests as soon as the weather would permit in the 
spring. That hotel was the first frame building 
erected here. It stood on the corner of Main and 
Bush streets, and was kept open for the accommodation 
of travelers for about two years by Andrus Durand. 
AVhile Mr. Durand was the landlord it was the Red 
House; afterwards it was called the Tee-pee-tonka, or 
"big house," and was kept by Jacob Bennett until des- 
troyed by fire in 18G5. 

The first frame dwelling house was built the same 
spring for Mr. Wm. Freeborn who moved his family 
here as soon as it was finished. This house stood 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 183 

froutiug the river on ground now occupied by the La 
Grange mills. 

A post office had been established here in 1851 by 
the friendly agency of Hon. H. H. Sibley, our delegate 
in Congress, and J. W. Hancock commissioned post- 
master. He was under the necessity of performing a 
journey to St. Paul to be qualified and execute the re- 
quired bond at an expense of over five dollars. His 
pay for the next two years hardly covered that expense; 
but it was a great convenience. Up to that time the 
nearest post office was t^v^enty-five miles away. The 
mail was carried in those days to and from St. Paul, 
easterly, by steamboats in the summer and by a one 
horse train ia winter. We usually expected a mail as 
often as every week; it was sometimes delayed three 
weeks on account of storms, or floating ice in the river. 
In the spring of 1852 once, we remember, the one horse 
mail train was, by accident, totally wrecked in crossing 
Spring creek, three miles west of Eed Wing. The mail 
bags, some five or six in number, were left several hours 
in the water. After being fished out they were brought 
to our post office and a whole day was spent in opening 
and drying the contents. 

At the opening of navigation in the spring of the 
year of 1853, the prospects for the future city were 
brightened. The arrival of the first boat was looked 
for with great expectations, and these expectations were 
partly realized. It brought needed supplies of provis- 
ions. It brought also some friends, who came to be 
permanent settlers. In fact all that season and for 
several years following, the landing of a steamer at 
this port was hailed with delight. It was not an un- 
common sight to see the larger part of the population 



184 HisTORy or goodhue county. 

hastening towards the river when a steamer was heard 
approaching. 

Besides friends and permanent settlers, many claim 
hunters visited the place, and the new hotel was well 
patronized. But those who came to speculate in land 
claims came too soon. It was rather dull business wait- 
ing for the land to be surveyed and offered for sale by 
the government. Among those who came to make the 
place their home this year were the following: Mr. 
Freeborn, Mr. Lauver, Mr. Akers, Revs. Mathew Sorin, 
Norris Hobart and Rezin Spates. These all brouglit 
their families. Several other families came later in the 
season, among whom were W. D. Chilson, Warren 
Hunt and T. J. Smith. The young men who were here 
as residents without families at that time were: Nels 
Nelson, Mathias P. Ringdahl, the Middaugh brothers, 
Hugh Adams, S. A. Hart, E. P. Lowater and David 
Puckett. Several bailt for themselves houses this year. 
Besides Mr. Freeborn's, already mentioned, Wm. 
Lauver, James inkers, Mathew Sorin, Norris Hobart, 
and Warren Hunt, had each of them a frame dwelling 
house completed during the autumn of 1858. The re- 
mainder of the population occupied shanties or log 
houses except the boarders at the hotel. 

In August, this year, the first company of Scandi- 
navians, who colonized the town of Vasa, landed here. 
These were the pioneers of piactieal farming in this 
county, S. J. Willard, Hans Mattson, Peter Green, 
Charles lioos, and A. G. Kemp. These men were so 
often seen in Red Wing for sevei-al months after their 
coming, they were generally considered citizens, but 
they were the real founders of Vasa township. 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 185 

This year the town was surveyed and platted by 
J. J. Kuauer for the proprietors who were the following 
named: Wra. Freeborn, Benj. F. Hoyt, Chas. L. 
Willis, Alex. Ramsey. 

The great event of the year which did most towards 
transforming the old village into the new was the first 
great conflagration. By this the style of architecture 
was wholly changed. It was near the time when the 
Indians were accustomed to return from their winter 
hunting grounds to occupy the summer residences and 
be ready to plant corn, Avhich usually was early in May. 
The day was serene and cloudless; carpenters were 
engaged on the new houses that were being constructed. 
Between twelve and one o'clock the cry of fiie was heard 
while nearly all the people were eating dinner. Leav- 
ing the tables immediately they saw smoke rising from 
the bark wigwams which was quickly followed by 
flames bursting from the roof of every structure of the 
kind. Nobody seemed to know what to do. All stood 
looking as if paralyzed with amazement. In less than 
oae hour all the bark covered houses in the place dis- 
appeared. This evidently was the work of incendiaries, 
but they were not discoverod. There were no police- 
men and no magistrates to bring them to justice. The 
few log houses then occupied by the white settlers es- 
caped the conflagration, as did the new frame buildings. 
Only a few days after some of the natives returned, 
looking somewhat disappointed at ihe change, but took 
it all as a matter of course, and fixed their habitations 
temporarily at other points in the vicinity. 

The close of the year 1853 was made memorable by 
the fact that the entire community were invited by that 
generous whole souled town proprietor, Wm. Freeborn, 



186 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

to partake of the annual thanksgiving dinner at his 
house. With exception of one or two persons, the in- 
vited guests were all present and had a grand social 
time. It was one of those occasions when the rich and 
poor meet together and acknowledge God as the 
Maker of all, and the source from whence all blessings 
How. 

The little community spent the winter following in 
peace and safety. Religions services were held each 
Sabbath in the school room of the old mission house. 
Hiram Middaugh was leader of the choir and teacher of 
singing. We had debates and social parties occasionally. 
As soon as the ice on the river became strong enough 
to bear up teams, travelers began to pass up and down 
the river, who frequently tarried for the night at this 
little berg. 

The spring of 1854 opened early. Having an occas- 
ion to go to St. Paul on the ice in a sleigh, on returning, 
the third day of March, the ice was so full of holes that 
it became necessary for one to go before the team, and 
look for the safest passage. That year the steamer D. 
Hillman passed through the lake on the oth day of 
April, on its way to St. Paul. The steamer Nominee, 
from Galena, 111., arrived at this port on the 7th of 
April. A number of new settlers came early this 
spring. H. L. Bevans had the frame of his new store 
all prepared for the hauling from the island, and just then 
the ice had become so weak as to be unsafe for teams to 
cross and the timber was hauled over on the ice by men 
with ropes. 

Hon. W. H. Welch, then chief justice of the Terri- 
tory, visited the place and decided to make his homo 
here. He bought a lot, on which a comfortable house 



HISTOllY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 187 

had beeu erected and moved his family here early in 
the spring. The same house where he lived till his 
death in 1864, is still standing on Third street. 
Among many others who came to stay during this 
season, we remember distinctly W. W. DeKay, P. San- 
ford, W. H. Wellington, C. J. R Smith, Wm. Col- 
vill, Jr., P. S. Fish and S. J. Hasler. A large number 
of dwellings, two warehouses, and several stores were 
erected this summer. Some wheat was raised in the 
surrounding country, and found to be of a superior 
quality. The marketing and shipping of this cereal 
gave Red Wing its first start as a business point. A 
few years after and before any railroads had found 
their way into our territory. Red Wing was claimed to 
be the greatest primary wheat market in the world. 

Red Wing this year had the honor of being made the 
county seat of the new county of Goodhue. A full com- 
plement of county officers were apppointed by the Ter- 
ritorial governor, nearly all of whom were citizens of 
Red Wing; but the burdens of office at that time were 
easily borne. Mr. Philander Sanford, our first lawyer, 
built for himself a law office on Main street, where all, 
or nearly all public and legaJ business, was transacted 
for that year. 

One thing that gave the place some reputation 
abroad at the early beginning was the probability that 
it would be soon the seat of an institution of learning of 
high order. It was known that the M. E. Church were 
about to establish a university somewhere in the North- 
west and that Red Wing had been selected as the 
proper place for it. The hopes of the people in regard 
to such an enterprise began to be realized towards the 
end of the year 1854, when Prof. Jabez Brooks, on the 



188 HISTOKY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

16th of November, opened a school in the hall over 
Smith, Hoyt & Go's store. This school was called the 
preparatory department of the Hamline University. 

The prevalence of the cholera on the river during 
the summer of this year had retarded the growth of the 
town somewhat. Persons were frequently landed here 
from boats, who were infected by the disease, and 
though cared for as tenderly and patiently as possibly, 
many of them died. It was remarkable that the pestil- 
ence did not spread among the residents. 

The winters of 1854-55, were very mild for this lati- 
tude, and the usual intellectual and social enjoyments of 
the season were passed with all the pleasures incident 
to such scenes. But though mild and pleasant it seemed 
to linger long in the lap of spring. The first boat from 
below was never waited for more anxiously than at that 
time. With a large majority of the inhabitants it had 
been the first winter of their experience in Minne- 
sota. Not knowing how much better appetites for food 
were enjoyed here than elsewhere, their winter supply 
of meat, fiour and fruit began to fall short. There was 
money enough, but for a month or so pork and flour 
could not be had in Red Wing for money. The ice in 
the river was too weak for traveling. No one was in 
danger of starvation; fish were plenty; and as the ice 
began to melt in places, wild ducks came to the rescue; 
yet the settlers craved a change of meat and more 
bread. We well remember how the proprietor of the 
Red Wing House was pat to his wits to provide for his 
voracious guests. With a flour pail in his hand he was 
frequently seen calling upon some private family to 
borrow a few pounds of the stuff to make bread of, prom- 
ising to return it in full when the first boat should 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 189 

arrive. The puffing steamboat came at last and landed 
a stock of groceries and provisions for the firm of 
Jackson & Enz; this firm had just opened a store on Bush 
Street. Among the goods landed at this arrival were 
eleven barrels of flour and a large hogshead filled with 
smoked hams and shoulders. These articles found a 
ready sale; being received on Friday evening and all 
sold out by the Monday following. Under the circum- 
stances the firm prudently limited each family to a por- 
tion. Thus all were temporarily supplied. Settlers 
living on claims far from town, came in as soon as they 
heard that a boat had come through the lake, and got 
provisions. Other boats came in a few days bringing 
needed supplies for other firms, and plenty now reigned 
among all who had the money to buy with. 

The United States Land Office was opened here about 
the begining of the year 1855, W. W. Phelps register, 
and C. Graham receiver. These officers were kept 
very busy filing the declarations of intended pre-empt- 
ors, etc. 

In the month of August, the same year, the first 
newspaper appeared, a very creditable four page sheet, 
published by Merritt & Hutchins, and issued every 
week. The printing office was on Main street, in a 
building whicli was first used as a carpenter's shop and 
a house of worship. The same building has since been fit- 
ted for and is now used as a private family residence. 

The most remarkable event of the year was the 
advent of whiskey. The proprietors of the town and 
nearly all the early settlers, were temperance people. It 
was then generally understood that the sale of intoxi- 
cating liquors, as a beverage, should be forever prohib- 
ited. But with the rush of immigrants consisting of 



190 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

speculators, merchants, and mechanics, who flocked to 
this embryo city that season, was one poor "blind pig;'' 
not a very dangerous animal to be sure. The first 
knowledge of its existence in the community came in 
the following figurative language, uttered in a under- 
tone, "Mr. P., a dry goods merchant on Bush street, 
keeps hard-ware in his cellar." More than two years 
had passed since the town was begun and no intoxicat- 
ing liquors had been kept for sale here openly; and it ap- 
peared as if no one could tolerate the business. How the 
whiskey ever got into that cellar was a mystery. It was 
soon evident that it was there. Men were seen coming 
from that store with unsteady step and flushed visages. A 
public meeting was called. Men of every profession 
and trade met together to express their indignation at 
the outrage. Long speeche^s were uttered, even poli- 
ticians dared to speak against the trafiic in these days. 
All at that meeting were unanimous in the opinion that 
measures should be taken to remove the nuisance as 
soon as practicable. A committee of five were ap- 
pointed to wait on the merchant who had the hard-ware 
in his cellar and inform him that the sale of the staff 
could not be allowed. The committee visited the 
offender, going in a body to the store, stating the object 
of their visit, and the authority under which they 
acted. The man winced somewhat under the influence 
of popular feeling thus boldly expressed; denied the 
charge of selling it, but owned that it was where men 
could go and get as much as they wanted. This man 
soon after closed his business and left the place. This 
transaction proved plainly that when the majority will 
unite their forces against any known evil, they will suc- 
ceed in putting that evil down. 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 191 

The first sale of public lauds in this county, occurred 
at the United States Land Ollice in Red Wing, begin- 
ing the 29th day of August, 1855. W. Le Due was the 
auctioneer. The notice of this sale had been prev- 
iously given in the newspapers; and many strangers 
thronged the village at the appointed hour. 

The settlers had formed a claim association in this 
immediate vicinity for the purpose of protecting them- 
selves from landsharks and speculators. David Han- 
cock was president, P. Sandford secretary, and Eezin 
Spates assistant secretary, of this association. Iloyal 
Lovell was appointed to represent the settlers at the 
sale. He stood close by the auctioneer and bid in all 
the lands which they respectively had claimed. Mr. 
Lovell held a description of every claimant's land, 
ready to bid the moment the numbers were called by 
the government agent, of any one description. The 
settlers stood by, ready to back him if occasion required. 
Though a large number of speculators were present 
ready to take advantage of such opportunities as 
offered for picking choice tracts, they dared not bid 
against the settlers, after being informed that such a 
combination for mutual protection had been formed, 
and were ready to defend their rights. 

The first brick yard in the county was opened for 
the manufacture of brick in East Red Wing by Georf^e 
Wilkinson in the summer of 1855. He had taken the 
contract for the erection of the Hamline university. 
He came and commenced the manufacture of brick for 
that structure chiefly, but furnished that material to 
others for a time. Besides the University building 
there were two brick dwellings erected that same year. 
The University building was completed and dedicated 



192 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

early in January, 1856. The preparatory department 
was immediately opened for students and a college 
class soon after formed. Before the year closed two 
teachers besides Prof. Brooks were added to the faculty. 
The institution soon obtained a wide reputation and 
students flocked hither from a distance to enjoy its ad- 
vantages. The lectures given by the professors from 
time to time and the debates of the literary societies 
were often attended by the citizens, and contributed 
much to make the new home attractive to all. 

A large immigration from other states and from 
Europe came to this place in 1856. Mauy new enter- 
prises were begun. Merchants and mechanics flocked 
hither, buildings of various size and materials were 
constructed. The north side of Main street, between 
Bush and Plum, was filled with business blocks, mostly 
of wood; the south side of the same had but two or 
three vacancies. A boarding house was built by Mrs. 
Huldah Allen, who soon after assumed the title of Mrs. 
llichard Freeborn, on the bank of the river, west of 
Broadway, which is still standing and is called the 
Farmer's Hotel. 

The first machinery for the manufacture of sash 
and blinds was put into operation this year by Hasler 
& Todd. They used a one horse tread-mill power. 

The land office did a flourishing business and called 
many strangers to this place during the three years it 
remained. Hotels and boarding houses multiplied and 
were well patronized. 

Barnes & Vanhouten opened a brick yard at the 
west end, and commenced the manufacture of that 
article, while Mr. Wilkinson's yard was still supplying 
brick, but not in sufficient quantities to meet the demand. 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 193 

The first saw mill was put in operation here by 
Pettibone & Knapp. It was afterwards run by Free- 
born & Pettibone. Cogel & Blakely built a mill for the 
manufacture of sash, doors and blinds. The machinery 
for this mill was sunk in the Mississippi with the 
steamer Itaska while on its way hither. Other machin- 
ery was soon purchased and the mill put in operation 
before the close of the year. The followiug year the 
same firm commenced the manufacture of wheat flour 
with one set of stones. This was the first flouring mill 
in the county. 

The prominent firms doing business here so early as 
1856 besides those already mentioned were J. C Weatli- 
erby, dry goods and groceries; Mclntiro & 8hiddon, F. 
F. Philleo, Richter & Sherman, all kept general mer- 
chandise; Betcher <% Brown, hardware; Clark & Allen 
also kept hardware; W. E. Hawkins and W. H. Wel- 
lington, painters ; Wm. Colvill, Murdock & Bristol, 
Chas. McClure and E. T. Wilder, attorneys at law; 
Smith, Towne & Co., dealers in real estate. The last 
named firm consisted of Otis F. Smith, Thomas F. 
Towne and J. C. Pierce. 

There was a hall over a business block on the north 
side of Main street called Philleo hall, which was finished 
and devoted to use of the public during the year 1856. 
This hall was for some time the place for holding con- 
ventions, public lectures, concerts, church festivals, etc. 
It was used on Sundays as a place for public worship 
by the Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and Baptists in 
succession, until each had built churches for them- 
selves. The Methodists occupied the chapel of Hamline 
University for Sunday services until their church edifice 
was completed. 

14 



194 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

The fourth day of July was duly celebrated for the 
first time in Red Wing in 1856. There was a grand pro- 
cession following a band of musicians, tliree in number; 
first, officers of the day, orator and reader; second, 
school children and teachers ; last, citizens generally. 
This procession marched to a natural groA^e near by, 
where the usual exercises, appropriate to the occasion, 
were listened to with attention. Hon. W. W. Phelps 
delivered the oration. Long tables had been prepared 
by the ladies, loaded with the best eatables the times 
could furnish and a free dinner was partaken of by all 
present. 

The Presbyterians commenced building a brick 
church this year. The outer walls were finished and 
the roof completed when winter set in. The interior 
was finished, furnished with a bell and dedicated, the 
following summer. This pioneer church still remains 
on the corner of Sixth street and East avenue, and 
serves the purpose of its founders. 

The spring of 1857 was backward in its approaches; 
but it brought a larger number of new citizens to our 
town and county than any previous year. The work of 
building new houses and stores was pushed with vigor 
through most of the season. 

The financial crisis which prevailed throughout the 
country began it effects here towards the close of 1857. 

By an act of the Territorial legislature, a charter 
was granted to the citizens of lied Wing for a city form 
of government. The first charter election was held 
this year and resulted iu the election of J. C. Weath- 
erby, for mayor; James Lawther, F. F. Hoyt and 
Charles Beers, for councilmen. 

The stringency in the money market did not check 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 195 

the growth of this new city entirely. A high rate of 
interest was allowed for the use of money, but the 
farmers were raisiug golden wheat. Large quantities 
of that product found a market here. Wheat buyers 
were on the street ready to meet teams as they entered 
and pay cash for the loads. Loads of wheat drawn by 
oxen from fifty to one hundred miles, were marketed 
here in those early days. The first bank was opened 
here on Main street, by Smith, Meigs & Co. Pascal 
Smith was chief manager. 

The same year another weekly newspaper com- 
menced its publication, which was named The Bed 
Wing Republican. The first number was dated Sep- 
tember 4, 1857. Lucius F. Hubbard was editor and 
proprietor. 

A convention had been held in St. Paul to frame a 
constitution for the new State in order to be admitted 
into the union at the next session of Congress. The 
work of that convention having just been completed 
the full copy of that constitution was published in the 
initial number of The Bed Wing Bepiihlican. The first 
regular convention of the Republican party was held in 
Red Wing the first of September the same year. Until 
this time party politics had made very little show in the 
county. The paper which had been published every 
week since August, 1855, I'Jie Seniinel, was a news- 
paper which served the wants and necessities of all the 
people ; but it was well known that its editor was a 
Democrat in National politics. As a matter of course 
when we should become a State, the former party afiili- 
ations of the settlers would become manifest. 

This first Ptepublican convention was presided over 
by Wm. Stanton as chairman, and H. L. Bevans acted 



196 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

as secretary. Hon. Chas. McClure made the principal 
speech at this convention. A full ticket was nominated. 
The Democrats held a party convention also and nom- 
inated a strict party ticket. The latter ticket was sanc- 
tioned by the vote of the people with one exception. 
Since that time till the present, the Republican party 
has generally been victorious. 

The attention of the people to buildings for the years 
to come was more general in town during 1857 than 
perhaps at any time since. It was a busy year for 
mechanics of all descriptions. A fact that will seem 
now strange to many is that all our cut-stone used for 
door and window sills, in brick structures, had to be 
imported from St. Paul, and all our lime for plastering 
was also imported from down the river. Phineas S. 
Fish made the first experiment of producing lime from 
the stone in Barn bluff this year. The article he pro- 
duced was considered inferior, and he did not continue 
the work. 

One of the most important events in the early his- 
tory of Ped Wing was the burning of the "Galena," a 
large Mississippi river steamer, on the 3d of July, 1858, 
on a trip up the river. The fire broke out just before 
the boat reached the landing at Bed AVing, but it was in 
a very short time there; so that nearly all the passen- 
gers had time to get off safely. Although it was a 
little past midnight, the light of the burning vessel en- 
abled all to see where to flee for refuge if they had 
had the proper presence of mind and courage to leap 
into the water. 

The following description of the event was given by 
one of the passengers, who wrote it before leaving Red 
Wing and was published in the Chicago press: 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 11>7 

"The boat's freight had beeu all discharged at the 
foot of the lake (Pepin). Au attempt was made to gain 
time by increasing speed. Before I retired the chim- 
neys appeared like volcanoes emitting showers of sparks, 
and the upper deck and mid air presented a scene 
worthy of a pyrotechnic of the first water. But this, 
you know, is not uncommon. No danger was antici- 
pated from this source, and it is not known, and prob- 
ably never will be, whether the disaster originated from 
this source. My impression is that the fire was com- 
municated from the lower portion of the chimney to the 
surrounding woodwork. About one o'clock, to give my 
own experience, some one caught my foot and shouted 
T/ie boat is on Jire.' My state room door was left 
partly open for ventilation. Fortunately, I had not 
doffed my pants or vest. Leaping from the upper 
berth I told Mary, Avho was also aroused, to be calm, 
with undoubtedly some tremor in my voice. I seized 
my boots, put them on, also my coat, and looked out. 
The alarm had not yet become very general, and I 
hoped that the fire might not prove disastrous. The 
first look I gave to the bow of the boat was sufiicient. 
The red flame, made lurid by the accompanying smoke, 
pierced through the cabin like a devouring tongue of 
an insatiate demon at the very instant. One look! You 
may have read descriptions of burning ships; you may 
have become, in imagination, a participant in the sublime 
horror of the scene, which human pen can never por- 
tray; but to stand, as I stood there, a living present 
witness, and a part of the scene itself, is fearfully and 
wonderfully different. One look, as I said, at that mad, 
devouring, hellish looking, fiend tongue, lapping with 
hot greed, the ceiling, doors, curtains, glass, and stabbing 



198 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

through into the opposite apartments, produced a strange 
re-action in my soul, awing me, as it were into coolness 
and deliberation. It was but for an instant. Hur- 
rying up and down the long saloon, were crazed women, 
and men almost as frantic. 'Where shall I go? Save 
me! Save me!' 'Oh my child, ray child!' 'Fire! 
Fire ! ' ' We're all lost !' ' This way, I will save you 
all,' mingled in one confused uproar, with piercing 
shrieks and lacerating cries high over all. If I spoke 
then I cannot now recall more words than these, 'Quick, 
Mary, give me my boy,' and those little boy hands are 
still clinging around my neck and the quick beat of 
that baby heart still meets the louder pulses of my own 
around which new veins of love have swollen rapidly, 
softening, melting, until even now — no I will not weep. 
Just at this moment, when a master was so much needed, 
no one knowing just what to do, Capt. Laughton, of 
heroic memory, appeared like an apparition in the 
midst of us, and said firmly: 'This wa} and you will all 
be saved. Steady, this way.' The tide turned in one direc- 
tion at the master's command, and with few exceptions, 
followed without crowding through the side entrance 
next the shore, which was somewhat obstructed by trunks 
which eager men were anxious to get ashore, or off the 
boat at least, and to our joy we found the boat's bow 
near the shore, and a plank launched. A group of ladies 
were in advance of me, and I set up a six foot Hoosier 
barrier against the crowd behind, holding back with the 
ability given me. In the confusion I missed Mary, but 
thought her in advance, and was so satisfied — so walked 
the plank tetering witli its excited burden, struck foot 
on shore with my jewel on my breast. There was joy 
in that moment's experience. A moment more and 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 199 

Mary was at my side — and then our friends all safe — 
and if but half dressed, barefooted, with disheveled hair, 
more beautiful in my eyes than fabled princesses in all 
the glory of their royal attire. We turned to look 
upon the scene before us. Already had the flames 
reached to the extreme ends of the long ship, extending 
high above the pilot house, still occupied by the brave 
man at the wheel, holding his charge hard on shore, 
and the whole heavens seemed lighted by the conflagra- 
tion. Still amid the flames could be seen a flitting form 
and heard a wild shriek of agony ; and now a boy — 
brave, glorious boy ! — leaps from the cabin deck, and 
swims with vigorous stroke down, down, the stream ; he 
cannot buffet it ; and now the yawl has reached him — 
saved ! hurrah ! The cry of ' powder on board ' startles 
with a new fear, and the crowd recedes far up the bluff 
and down the shore. Down falls the deck, up shoot 
the flames, renewed with strength, vaulting high above 
the tall black chimneys ; crash came the huge black 
monsters themselves over the deck. The river seethes 
and hisses, as if wounded and mad with pain ; the high 
wheel-house arches flame and tumble into the surge ; 
bang ! goes the cylinder head, and the liberated stream 
outrushing, for a moment, seems to rend the monster's 
bowels, and then subdued by its own energy, is seen no 
more. The boilers fall ; the flame begins to droop ; 
the hull is burning low ; the water's edge is reached ; 
in flows the adverse element ; she fills, she sinks ; and 
with one loud hiss of defiance the flames expire and all 
is dark and silent. Among the more notable incidents 
of the scene was the pilot standing bravely, cooly, at the 
wheel, enveloped by the flame uutil the boat was safe 
aground. He made his escape over the decks and down 



200 HISTOKY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

the rigging, Capt. Laughton was twice knocked down 
by trunks thrown from the decks in his passage up and 
down to save his passengers. He had several children 
on board, all ol: whom were saved. A poor Norwegian 
woman, who had a cow tied on the lower deck, in at- 
tempting to liberate the poor dumb animal, lost her own 
child. There were several oxen and cows on board. Most 
of them, after being badly burned, broke overboard and 
swam ashore. The greatest distress and sympathy were 
felt for a poor girl of fourteen years, whose mother with 
two younger sisters and a brother, were all lost. They 
were a plain, honest, earnest looking family, on their 
way from Michigan to meet the husband and father, at 
Maukato, Minn. This poor girl goes alone to convey 
the sad intelligence to her father. Perhaps no one 
saved suffered more in getting ashore than my friend, 
Wm. Bradley, of Keokuk. He was too late for the gang- 
way and after spending his best exertions to save some 
children who chmg to his limbs, and some women who 
persistently refused to jump into the water although 
small boats were waiting as near as the tiames would 
permit, he let himself down from the guard and fell 
exhausted into a skiff then half full of water. He 
reached the shore and was saved, but that was all. 
The b )y who leiped from the deck and swam so finely, 
said he never swim bot'ore in his life, but preferred 
drowning to burning autl so sprung overboard. Instinct 
taught him to swim. A bridegroom and bride, young 
and joyful, from Orin, N. Y., got ashore; he dressed 
in the unique costume of a hat and shirt, she ditto, less 
the liat. Scarcely any baggage was saved. I have ten 
checks in my pocket, but not a trunk or carpet bag, 
Charley had on a night gown, and his mother was cos- 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 201 

turned a la the bride above mentioned. Unfortunately 
for me I had deposited my money in the safe, and the 
safe proved to be an iron box ouly, everything within 
it being utterly destroyed. The citizens of Red 
Wing are a humane-hearted people. All our immedi- 
ate wants are being relieved and we shall take the next 
boat up, without money, and no baggage to trouble us." 
The next morning before breakfast a young man 
rapped at our door. We lived on the corner of Fiftli 
and Bush streets. He was without hat and shoes; had 
on a shirt and pants which I think was his only clothing. 
His name was Riggs, a son of Dr. S. R. Riggs, one of 
the early missionaries among the Indians. This young 
man, with his sister, was returning from Ohio, where 
they had been spending some time at school, and were 
among the passengers of the ill-fated vessel. They 
were on their way to the home of their parents at the 
Indian mission near Lac qui Parle. The young man 
said that his sister was at the Central House where they 
had found accommodations after escaping from the burn- 
ing vessel during the night. He wished to borrow a 
lady's dress that she might be able to leave her room, 
as she had escaped with only her night clothes. Of 
course his request was granted, and both were soon pro- 
vided with needful garments. The ladies of the differ- 
ent churches were all engaged in preparing suitable 
outfits for the unfortunate ones, for that day and the 
next. These survivors, after being properly provided 
for, were embarked on the next boat up the river going 
to their several destmations. The charred remains of 
the five persons who perished, were tenderly and care- 
fully deposited in coffins and buried with the usual 
christian burial service, in Oakwood cemetery. 



202 HISTOKY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

It will be of interest to state here that the young 
man mentioned above is now engaged in a very success- 
f al mission work among the Indians, and that his sister 
has been for years a missionary in China. 

Notwithstanding the dull times in reference to busi- 
ness matters throughout the country, on account of the 
money panic, many new buildings were added to the 
new city during the year 1858. The contract for 
building a court house and jail was let in June. The 
work on the foundation was soon after begun and 
pushed on until the winter set in. A goodly number of 
professional men, mechanics, and laborers, were added 
to the permanent population. Immigration from the 
old country increased. Stages began to run in difPerent 
directions, roads and bridges were constructed to 
accommodate travelers and visitors. After harvest 
wheat began to pour in for sale and wheat buyers mul- 
tiplied. The custom of having free public lectures was 
inaugurated here ia the fall, and continued through the 
winter, about two lectures each month from November 
to April. These lectures were given for the most part 
by men who resided here. This custom prevailed up 
to the beginning of the civil war, and added much to 
the social and intellectaal enjoyments of the people. 
Occasionally the lecture appointment was filled by 
some one from abroad. Among the latter we remem- 
ber having the pleasure of hearing Bayard Taylor on 
"Life in the North," and J. G. Holland on "Hobby 
Riding." The now famous author, Edward Eggleston, 
who was a resident of Minnesota in his younger 
days, visited Red Wing several limes, and gave inter- 
esting lectures, illustrating the same by stereopticon 
views. 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 203 

The IGtli of June, 185U, was made memorable by 
being the date of the first graduating exercises held by 
the Hamline University. A college commencement was 
a rare occurrence in so new a State, and was a great 
attraction. The graduating exercises Avere held in the 
Presbyterian church, which was filled with people to 
overflowing. The graduating class consisted of two 
young ladies. They were sisters, Elizabeth and Emily 
Sorin, both of Avhom read essays of their own composi- 
tion in such a manner as to be distinctly heard by every 
one present. At the close the degree of A. B. was con- 
ferred upon the young graduates. Classes were grad- 
uated in the years following, while tlie institution re- 
mained here, consisting generally of some persons of 
both sexes. Among them we would mention the names 
following: Hon. H, E. Brill, Judge of District Court, 
of St. Paul; Bradford J. Raymond, D. D., President of 
Wesleyan University, at Middlebury, Conn. ; and Hon. B. 
B. Herbert, Editor of Natiojial Journalist, Chicago, 111. 

The first music teacher in Red Wing was Miss 
Harriet Kellogg, afterward Mrs. Jessie M. Hodgman. 
She gave lessons on the piano in 1856 and for several 
years following was the only teacher in that line. Our 
first teachers in singing were Hiram Middaugh, S. A. 
Hart, C. L. Davis and J. C. Hawes. 

A project was set on foot here at an early date to 
improve our methods of communication with the coun- 
try further west, by the navigation of Cannou river. 
The plan was never consummated, though an act of 
incorporation was obtained from the legislature, as this 
following notice will show : 

SLACK WATER NAVIGATION. 

A meeting of the incorporators of the Slack Water 



204 HISTOEY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

Navigation company was held at Faribault, March 24, 
and the following officers were elected : W. W. Phelps, 
president; L. Z. Rogers, secretary; A. H. Bullis, treas- 
urer. 

It is the intention of this company to have a thor- 
ough survey of the Cannon and Le Sueur rivers and the 
lakes between their head waters, to determine cost and 
locate the necessary locks and dams. — Red Wing Argus, 
April, 1865. 

The first attempt made to obtain railroad facilities, 
was at a meeting of the citizens in Tamer's hall, De- 
cember 12, 1868. The statement was there made that a 
bonus of $100,000 towards a railroad would in twenty 
years make the taxable proparty $10,000,000, and the 
rate of taxation would also be redacecl materially. 

The year following a bonus was offered of $75,000 
to the St. Paul & Chicago Railroad Co. 

Early in March, 1866, there was no small stir among 
the citizens of Red Wing on account of the supposed 
discovery of oil in abundance. 

Under date of March 15, 1866, the regular weekly 
papers contained notices headed, " Oil well in Red 
Wing!" "Steady flow of Petroleum !" "A joint stock 
company organized," etc. The facts in the case were, 
that a party of men had been engaged in digging for 
water for household purposes in the eastern part of the 
village, between Barn and Sorin bluffs. They found 
water twenty feet below the surface, but not sufficient 
in quantity for the purposes required. Consequently 
they continued to dig deeper. The next morning, after 
having found water, they commenced dippiug out that 
which had run in daring the night. Immediately the 
strong] odor of petroleum was realized; but they kept 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 205 

on digging. And the next morning the same thing 
happened. There was clear evidence of oil on the water 
before it was stirred. A portion was saved for visitors 
to smell of during the day. Every morning, for several 
days in succession, some signs of oil were apparent in 
the water drawn out of that well. 

A joint stock company was actually organized. The 
stock was all taken, officers chosen, and the operations 
commenced. There were some doubting Thomases, 
however, who would wait for a clearer view. 

So after the news had gone abroad in the papers 
under the head lines, "Steady How of petroleum in East 
Eed Wing," and almost everybody seemed to have oil 
on the brain, the doubters set a watch over the famous 
well during the dark and black night. And when the 
stillness of midnight had settled down upon all around, 
behold the soft light of an old-fashioned tin lantern 
drew gently near the mouth of the well. The watchers 
soon seized hold of the midnight light bearer and found 
in his possession, a tin can of kerosene oil!!! It is 
hardly necessary to add that the Red Wing oil com- 
pany's office was closed very soon. The expenses of 
the company had amounted to only about $25, when the 
business wound up. There was a short paragraph in 
the papers the following week, headed, " The oil well a 
sell !" which gave the report of the night watchmen. 

If any of the members of that "oil company" are 
still living in Red Wing I presume they would just as 
soon not have their names mentioned. 

So soon after the discovery of gold in California ; 
and the oil wells of Pennsylvania were beginning to 
yield so abundantly of the means for artificial light, it 
would not be considered at all strange if the first comers 



206 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

iuto a new region should be constantly looking for 
something beneath the soil to encourage their hope of a 
future fortune. And such was actually the case among 
the early settlers in this county. 

Many times it was announced in the Red Wing 
papers that some farmer had found strong indications 
of coal on his place. Digging for the precious fuel was 
often resorted to, but it invariably ended in disappoint- 
ment. Some man discovered gold dust among the sand 
which had been thrown out of an excavation made for a 
fence post in Red Wing at oue time, which raised ex- 
citement enough to help up the price of real estate. At 
another time gold was discovered in the south part of 
the county on the Zumbro river. The bed of that 
stream was considered, for a few days, a ricli find. 
About a bushel of the yellow sand was brought into 
Red Wing to be washed and tested as to its value and 
purity. The test proved that gold was actually found, 
but not in paying quantities. 

Disastrous hres were frequent in Red Wing before 
the present system of water works was completed in 
1885. The first fire was the burning of the Indian 
bark houses in the spring of 1853, an account of 
which has already been given. The first dwelling 
house among the whites which was burned to the 
ground was built, owned and occupied by Thomas M. 
Lowater, Esq. It stood on the corner oi Third and 
Fvilton streets. A defective flue was supposed to have 
been the cause. Loss, $2,500; insurance, $1,000. 

The next fire of any importance was the burning of 
a block of stores, corner of Main and Bu'-h streets, 
together with the stable and barn of the Red Wing 
house, which stood near the block on Bush street. This 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 207 

fire broke out about noon on the 28tli of October, 1857. 
This block was at the time the finest business structure 
in the town. It was built by James Lawther less than 
a year previous. The stores were occupied as follows : 
Peter Meserole, hardware ; S. B. Foot, ready made 
clothing; H. Lowater, books and stationery; J. M. Syl- 
vester and W. L. Webster, jewelry. Offices in the sec- 
ond story were occupied by Charles McClure, a lawyer, 
and C. H. Connely, a physician. The greater part of 
the goods in the stores were saved, but the building was 
a total loss, estimated at 15,000. 

A hook and ladder company had been organized at 
this time which did effective work in preventing the 
llames from spreading. Water was brought from the 
river in buckets by hand to stop the flames from spread- 
ing. Not men only, but women and children, were em- 
ployed in this bucket brigade. 

The year following, the Kelly House barn was totally 
consumed by fire. This house was afterward named 
Central House and situated on Plum street. The barn 
stood just in the rear of the house on the alley, and the 
contents, hay, grain, harness and carriages, were all 
consumed. Total loss, $2,500. The house was kept by 
W. L. Webster and was saved with great difficulty. 
The furniture Avas much damaged by hasty removal. 
This fire was the work of an incendiary; at least so re- 
ported. 

In June, 1865, the hotel, which was the first frame 
building erected in Eed Wing, was wholly consumed 
by fire. This hotel stood on the corner of Main and 
Bush streets and was called the " Teepetonka," owned 
and kept by Jacob Bennett. The fire broke out early 
in the morning ; when first discovered the kitchen in 



208 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

the rear was all in flames. The furniture in the front 
part was nearly all saved, but the house, with several 
contiguous buildings, was reduced to ashes: It was 
through the utmost energy of our citizens that the whole 
row of wooden structures on the south side of Main, 
between Bush and Plum streets, was not consumed. 
The hook and ladder company did efficient work on the 
occasion, as also did the volunteer bucket brigade. 

January 15, 1880, in the evening, a building on Bush 
street, which had been occupied by Mclntire & Sheldon 
as a store, was burned. The building had been unoccu- 
pied for a long time and belonged to Chas. Bryant. 
Before the fire could be put out there was nothing left 
but the bare walls. Insured for $1,000. 

On the evening of April 9, 1882, a fire started be- 
tween Main and Third streets, which, before it could be 
subdued, swept over and destroyed nearly half a block 
of buildings in the business part of Red Wing. 

About eight o'clock Easter Sunday evening, our 
citizens were startled by the cry of fire ! fire ! followed 
immediately by the ringing of the fire bell. The Epis- 
copal church was crowded to overflowing with those in 
attendance upon the services of the Knights Temj)lar, 
and being in the near vicinity of the fire, a rush was 
immediately made for the doors. The services, which 
had but just begun, were brought to a sudden close. 
The other churches throughout the city, where evening 
services had already commenced, were soon vacated. 
The fire was first discovered in an unused shed stand- 
ing in the rear of Henry Nelson's tailor shop, and 
adjoining Webster & Perkin's livery stable. Mr. Nel- 
son's foreman was in the shop and notified the men at 
the stable, who gave the first alarm. The shed was half 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 209 

filled with straw at the time, and the flames spread very 
rapidly. Id less than fifty minutes the whole cluster 
of buildings was a seething mass of ruins, reaching 
from the livery stable east on Third street, to the black- 
smith shop of Ilol)ertson & Matthews, west to Broadway, 
and north to Main street. Every building was destroyed 
with the exception of the brick block, on the corner of 
Main and Broadway, which latter was damaged consid- 
erably. The large opera house, on the corner of Broad- 
way and Third street, was the most valuable building 
destroyed by this fire. The original cost of this, with 
the lot, was $24,000. Several costly improvements had 
been recently added. Nothing of importance was saved 
of its furniture and fixtures. Insnrr.nce, $6,000. A 
number of families were deprived of a home for a time 
by this fire. Mr. C. P. Belin and family occupied rooms 
in the upper story of Webster & Perkins' livery stable. 
Mrs, Belin had gone to church, leaving her infant child 
in care of an aged invalid mother. The two were saved 
with difficulty. Misses G. Easterly and Tilda Carlson, 
sewing girls, occupying rooms adjoining, saved their 
lives but lost all their effects except one sewing machine. 
A Mr. Bragg and family, occupying rooms over one of 
the buildings on Main street, escaped with their lives, yet 
lost most of their furniture. J. Kuhn, occupying the 
basement of the opera house as a residence and restau- 
rant, saved but a small portion of his goods. Dr. G, 
Allen lived in a brick house on Broadway, which was 
burned, with the barn, and the contents of both were 
nearly all destroyed, the family barely escaping. 
Another brick house, occupied by A. Steinerson and 
family, was also destroyed, with most of the furniture; 
lives saved. Among the buildings cousi.med on Main 

14 



^10 HISTORY OE GOODHUE COUNTY. 

street at this time were: An omnibus stable, Raymond 
& Wright ; the express office of S. W. Eoberts ; the 
second-hand store of J. J. Quayle; and Mr. Bragg's 
meat market. On Third street, besides the opera house 
and livery block, the tailor shops of H. Nelson and John 
Norquist, and the hardware store of John Delano, were 
consumed, and the blacksmith shop next to the hard- 
ware store damaged materially. During the time of 
this fire the wind blew from the east a perfect gale. 
The air for a considerable distance was filled with fly- 
ing cinders. Watchers were apprehensive of a more 
extensive conflagration. There had been a heavy rain 
storm the night before and the roofs of buildings were 
so thoroughly wet that the holocaust was prevented. 

In 1882, June 13, a fire broke out about one o'clock 
a. m. in the drug store in the brick block on the same 
corner of Bush and Main streets where the old Tepee- 
tonka had formerly stood. The drug store was kept by 
J. L. Kellogg. When first seen, the fire was in the rear 
end of the building, but in a few minutes the inside of 
the salesroom was a seething mass of flames, which 
soon burst out both in front and rear with great fury. 
In the second story, just over the drug store, Dr. AV. W. 
Sweney had an office, which was considerably damaged. 
Adjoining the block was C. E. Sheldon's jewelry store, 
fronting Bush street, whose stock, consisting chiefly of 
fine crockery, was taken out with such haste as to be 
damaged to the amount of $800. On the Main street 
side adjoining, was the large dry goods store of C. Bel- 
anger. His stock was also injured by removal and the 
water, so as to occasion a loss of $500. Goods were 
removed from several other stores and offices before the 
progress of the fire was arrested, and the total losses by 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 211 

this fire was estimated at $12,500; mostly covered by 
insurance. 

The same year a series of fires occurred on the 18th 
of September. At about seven p. m., a room in the 
second story of the Scandinavian hotel, on Potter street 
was discovered on fire, which was soon extinguished by 
a few buckets of water. The fire was on a bed which 
stood near an open window. It was supposed that some 
one threw fiery missiles from the street in at the window. 
About an hour later another alarm was sounded, and 
the Lyon's house stable was found burning on the cor- 
ner of Third and Plum streets. All efforts to save this 
building were unavailing, but while it was still burning 
another cry of fire was heard over on Broadway. This 
fire commenced in the rear of the barn belonging to the 
National hotel. Soon the baru was on fire, and the 
hotel, witli a building adjoining, were all reduced to 
ashes. It seemed that all the firemen could do was to 
prevent the destruction of the furniture factory and the 
dwelling of Mr. Hastings. The National hotel was 
owned at the time by Charles Betcher. His loss was 
estimated at $5,000 ; insured for $1,000. 

By far the most destructive fire which has yet oc- 
curred in Red Wing was on the 4th of March, 1883, 
when the Diamond and Bluff mills, with several adjoin- 
ing buildings, were totally destroyed. These mills, 
together with the Bluff saw-mill, were all owned by a 
joint stock company, which employed about one hun- 
dred men and turned out one thousand barrels of fiour 
per day. The saw-mill only was saved from the devour- 
ing element. These mills occupied the whole front of 
Levee street from Barn bluff to the foot of Potter street. 

At about twenty minutes after midnight, George 



212 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

King, the engineer, and Charles Bailey, fireman on the 
yard engine of the Milwaukee railroad, noticed an unu- 
sual light through the windows of the fourth floor of 
the Diamond mill. They immediately started their 
engine down the track to get a clearer view and soon 
decided that the mill was on fire. They commenced 
giving the alarm by blowing the engine whistle. The 
mill whistle commenced sounding at almost the same 
time, and very soon the bells of the city added to the 
dismal chorus. The fire had evidently been set by some 
person, who was familiar with the construction of the 
mills, during the change of the night watchmen. The 
early watchman had completed his rounds at 11:30, as 
shown by his time detector, an instrument which the 
watchmen were required to carry. He had turned over 
the watch to the other watchman and gone home. The 
later watchman had come, put on his detector, examined 
the water gauge, looked into the fire room, went to the 
engine door to lock it, and looking out discovered the 
fire and immediately gave the alarm. Engineer W. A. 
Potter was the first at the mill and W. H. Norris was 
there soon after. Potter started the pump and Norris 
rushed to the fourth floor to turn on the water but was 
driven back by the smoke. F. C. Boynton made a sim- 
ilar attempt but failed in the same manner. The fire 
engine was soon on hand and throwing water, but the 
flames had obtained such a headway that the elevator 
and warehouses, with the Bluff mill, were soon de- 
stroyed, with the contents. The firemen succeeded in 
saving the saw-mill by wetting it down. The fire raged 
full five hours before it was under control. The total 
loss was estimated at $240,000. The total insurance was 
1173,000. The mills have not been rebuilt. 



CHAPTEE XVI. 

RED WING CONTINUED. 

Soon after the great fires which resulted in the 
destruction of the Diamond and Red Wing flouring 
mills had occurred, the citizens of the place began to 
agitate the question: "How can we prevent the frequent 
recurrence of such calamities?" The agitation of this 
question among the people finally led the city council 
to move in the matter. Our representatives in the leg- 
islature, in the winter of 1883, were asked to procure 
the enactment of a law, granting to the city of Red 
Wing the power to issue bonds, for the purpose of 
constructing a system of water works. The act was 
approved March 1, 1883, and provided that before it 
should become operative it should be submitted to the 
legal voters of the city for their approval or otherwise. 
The vote was taken in July following, fixing the amount 
of the bonds to be issued at $85,000. The vote upon 
the proposition resulted in its adoption by a large 
majority. A committee was appointed by the mayor 
whose duty it should be to examine, devise and recom- 
mend the best plan for an efiicient system of water 
works for the city. 

In the discharge of its duty this committee visited 
several cities and towns where water works had been 



214 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

constructed, for the purpose of. securing the best plan. 
They engaged Mr. H. H. Harrison, of Stillwater, to 
draft a plan and specifications for prosecuting the work. 
In due time the plans and specifications for the 
entire work were submitted to the city council and 
adopted. The contract for doing the work was awarded 
on the 2Sth day of August, 1883, to the Northwestern 
Water & Gas Supply company, of Minneapolis, Minn., 
it being the lowest responsible bidder, for the sum of 
$85,0C0. The work of this company, when completed, 
was as follows : A pump house of stone, facing Levee 
street, at the foot of Hill street, 40x52 feet, divided into 
a pump room, and a boiler room, and a brick coal shed 
adjoining. The water is taken from the main channel 
of the Mississippi river, through a fourteen-inch cast- 
iron intake pipe, extending 800 feet from the pump 
house across the bay ; the water is conveyed by gravity 
into a screen well, where it is cleared of leaves, chips, 
small fish and other impurities ; thence it passes through 
a pipe into an adjacent filter well, where it passes 
through a filter pit composed of sponges ; thence it is 
conveyed through an arch from the bottom of the filter 
well to an adjoining pump-well ; thence it is pumped 
by two of Blake's duplex pumps, which work either 
single or double, into the street mains, and forced into 
a one million gallon reservoir located on Sorin blufP, 
at an elevation of two hundred and seventy-five feet 
above the river. The motive power is supplied by two 
forty-eight inch steel tubular boilers, each fourteen feet 
in length. There are about six miles of street mains, 
using about six hundred tons of cast-iron pipe. There 
are fifty-two hydrants and thirty-five steel gate valves. 
These works have been thoroughly tested by seven years 



HISTOKY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 215 

use and prove to be of uutold value in speedily arresting 
the progress of lire. No buildings of any size or import- 
ance have been entirely consumed in this city since the 
completion of this system of works in 1885. Eight 
streams of water can be thrown at the same time, through 
nozzles ranging from one to two inches in diameter. 
The pressure is such that the water can be thrown over 
the roofs of the highest buildings. 

Besides preventing any great loss from burning 
buildings, these works are of great benefit in furnishing 
a supply of fresh water for many households ; also for 
watering streets and lawns during the summer season. 
Extensions and improvements have been added since 
the first completion, as demanded by the growth of the 
city, until the entire cost of the water works and 
grounds, with implements and tools, etc., amounts to 
the sum of $95,000. The rents paid for the use of the 
water by individuals, for private purposes, now pay all 
the running expenses, and as the number of those who 
pay water rent is annually increasing, this fund will 
shortly furnish the means to pay a portion of the 
maturing bonds. 

Red Wing Gas Light company was organized in 
1872 for the purpose of lighting the streets, public 
buildings, and private residences when called for, with 
gas. This company completed their preparations for 
furnishing gas, and the streets of the city of Bed Wing 
were first lighted by that material on the evening of 
February 11, 1873. Since that time an electric light 
plant has been introduced and the same company have 
become the owners thereof; reorganized under the name 
of Red Wing Gas and Electric Company. They furnish 
the city with street lights, and lights for city offices, at the 



216 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

cost of less than $3,000 per annum. They also furnish 
lights for churches, public halls, stores, and private 
dwellings at reasonable rates. 

MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES. 

First among the industries of Red Wing was that of 
the manufacturing of lumber for building purposes, 
from logs which were brought down the river from the 
pineries in the North. The article being in great de- 
mand always in the first settlement of a new country, it 
is only natural that its production should be felt as the 
most needful. This industry is still carried on to the 
extent of supplying the constant demands of a thriving 
town and the surrounding country, but in proportion to 
the capital invested and agents employed, other indus- 
tries have far surpassed it. 

The turning of wheat into flour was commenced here 
as early as 1857. Hay Creek Mills began the manufac- 
ture of flour about the year 1866. These mills were 
run by water power. In 1873 the Red Wing mill company 
erected what was known as the Bluff mill. This com- 
pany's first structure contained eleven run of burrs, 
three sets of iron, and six of porcelain rollers, with all 
the improved machinery and appliances of a first-class 
new process mill. This structure was soon connected 
by a warehouse, having a capacity for 150,000 bushels, 
to ano'her excellent building known as the Diamond 
mill, a notable feature of which was the Hungarian 
system, the first introduced into this country, by which 
method, or system, there are four or more griudings of 
the wheat, elaborate purification, and reduction of mid- 
dlings to flour by means of rollers, or rollers and stones 
combined. Both these mills were located near the 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 217 

Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, the basement 
floors being on a level with the bottom of a freight car 
standing on the track. Their distance from the river 
dock being only 100 feet gave these mills remarkable 
shipping facilities. When running to their full capac- 
ity these mills turned out 1,000 barrels of flour in 
twenty-four hours. Unfortunately these mills were 
entirely destroyed by fire in 1883. 

THE LA GRANGE MILL COMPANY. 

This company was formed, and articles of incor- 
poration signed, in March, 1873, but did not take 
effect till 1877; and to continue thirty years. The 
main building is six stories in height. The base- 
ment is of stone, and three feet in thickness; the re- 
maining stories, brick. The walls of the brick- work are 
twenty inches at the bottom, and one foot at the top. 
The basement story is twelve feet high; the next, or 
grinding story, is fifteen feet high; second and third 
stories, each twelve feet; the fourth and fifth are each 
fourteen feet. The whole structure rests on solid rock. 
The frame work is of the most substantial character. 
The engine and boiler rooms are in a one-story stone and 
brick structure, 20x50 feet, with gravel covered roof. 
A fire wall, twelve inches in thickness, separates the two 
rooms, with fire proof doors. Adjoining the mill is a 
wheat warehouse of brick and stone, 60 feet square, 
with a capacity of 75,000 bushels, having fire proof walls 
and doors. The cost of buildings and machinery was 
$75,000. The treasurer's report, September 30, 1878, 
showed 885,000 of stock subscriptions all paid in. The 
wheat purchased by the company up to that time 
amounted to 324,238 bushels. The company had man- 



218 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

ufactured 63,031 barrels of flour, of which 55,000 barrels 
had been shipped. That was the first year's work. 
The present capacity of the mills is 800 barrels per 
day; the yearly output over 200,000 barrels. 

EED WING MANUFACTURING COMPANY. 

This enterprise was first established by Daniel C. 
Hill, in 1862, at the corner of Main and Bluff streets. 
A small two-story frame building, 30x60 feet, with a 
wing, 16x30, served for the first few years; was operated 
by steam power and devoted to the manufacture of 
sash, doors, blinds and mouldings. The rapid growth of 
the business obliged the proprietor to enlarge his 
works, and in 1869 he erected a large two-story brick 
block, 50x60 feet, in connection with the original build- 
ing, and had during most of the year thirty-five men 
employed. In the year 1882, a joint stock company was 
formed with a capital of $75,000, and the buildings ex- 
tended to more than double their former capacity. 
New and improved machinery having been added, they 
manufacture besides the articles for finishing houses, 
all kinds of furniture. About one hundred persons are 
employed in the establishment. The annual output is 
$225,000. They now have a three-story brick block, 
120x60 feet; afire proof warehouse, 120x40 feet; with a 
wing 60x34 feet. The warehouse is four stories in height. 
An office and drying house have lately been added to the 
establishment. 

THE RED WING FURNITURE COMPANY. 

The plant of this company is located on West Main 
street between West Avenue and Dakota street, and 
they are engaged in tlie manufacture of household and 
office furniture. The engine and boiler rooms are in 



HISTORY OP GOODHUE COUNTY. 219 

the rear of the workshops. This latter building is four 
stories high, fronting on Dakota street; dimensions, 
50x60 feet. The main building is a three-story brick, 
120x60 feet, fronting Main street. The capital stock of 
this company is $46,000. Their annual sales amount 
to $70,000. They employ sixty men ; incorporated in 
1880. The products of this, as well as those of the 
Manufacturing company above mentioned, are shipped 
to various points in this and the adjoining states. 
There are several private furniture factories in the city, 
which supply the home demand. 

THE CHARLES BETCHER LUMBER COMPANY. 

Mr. Betcher commenced in the lumber business 
here in 1859, purchasing Mr. Blakely's interest in the 
firm of Cogel & Blakely. In 1861 they purchased the 
old "Freeborn Mill;" the present saw-mill is upon the 
same old site. In 1867 the structure was rebuilt, en- 
larged and greatly improved. Mr. Cogel retiring in 
1875, left Mr. Betcher alone. The mills are located on 
the bay at the west end of town, convenient to the rail- 
roads, with an accessible and safe harbor for logs. 
The capacity of the saw-mill may be rated at 7,000,000 
feet per annum. 

The average cut of logs for the last few years is 
6,000,000 feet, with 2,500,000 shingles, and 480,000 lath. 
Lumber shipments in 1891 amounted to $173,196.00; 
shipments of wagon and sleigh stock, 1891, $33,400. 
The planing mill is devoted to the manufacture of 
sash, doors, window blinds, moulding, packing boxes, 
etc., and is furnished with all the modern machinery for 
doing every variety of work. The company supplies 
fifteen lumber yards outside of Ked Wing, mostly located 



220 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

on the H. & D. railroad. They employ about 125 men, 
to whom they paid in cash the last year $34,000. Ad- 
ditional payments were made in lumber. This estab- 
lishment does a high grade of all kinds of inside 
finish, both in pine and hard woods. 

THE MANUFACTURE OF LIME 

is one of the principal industries, and is carried on 
extensively by several firms or companies in and around 
the city. Mr. G. A. Carlson may be called the pioneer 
in the business. Commencing in a small way in the 
early history of Red Wing with but little capital, he 
has pushed ahead with an indomitable energy and per- 
severance until he occupies the first place among the 
lime producers of the Northwest. Mr. Carlson's works 
are the most extensive of their kind probably, to be 
found in the State. He owns several hundred acres of 
land, which include two large stone quarries and twelve 
lime kilns. The combined product of these kilns is 
very large, and they are operated almost continuously 
through the year. Shipments are made to all points in 
the West and North. By means of the sidetracks from 
the railroad directly from the quarries and kilns, his 
shipments are easily made. Constant employment is 
given in his business to about sixty men. The annual 
value of the product is over $75,000. Mr. Carlson has 
lately perfected a new process for the manufacture of 
lime. It is nothing less than the substitution of gas for 
wood, in the burning. He has six kilns in operation 
uuder this plan, wliieli, for completeness of arrange- 
ment, cannot be surpassed. It is stated on good author- 
ity that the lime made by this method is superior to 
that burned in the old way, and the cost in the manu- 
facture is reduced considerably. 



HISTOEY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 221 

TWIN CITY LIME AND CEMENT COMPANY. 

This company was organized and incorporated in 
1890, with a capital stock of $50,000. Their shipping 
facilities are excellent, the lime being loaded into the 
cars directly from the bias where it is placed on being 
taken from the kilns. Their works are located chiefly 
on the northerly side of Barn bluff. This company is 
doing a large business in furnishing building material 
for St. Paul and Minneapolis. 

STONEWARE. 

In the manufacture of stoneware Red Wing justly 
claims the distinction of being the largest producing 
point in the Northwest. It is known to some of the 
early settlers that John Paul, a farmer in the north 
part of the town of Goodhue, had a little factory cov- 
ered with turf, where he made crocks for packing but- 
ter, and flower pots for the ladies who cultivated jjlants 
through the winter. He shaped his wares on a wheel 
propelled by a treadle, and disposed of the largest share 
among his neighbors. His raw material was dug from 
beneath the soil of his own farm. He continued the 
business but a short time, and, as far as known, he was 
the first to use the clay from the clay beds in this vicin- 
ity in the manufacture of earthen vessels. Terra coUa 
was manufactured here for several years by William 
Philleo and Philander Sprague, from the clay in the 
southwest part of the city. Their product was chiefly 
vases for flowers, and ornamental Avork. The business 
did not prove prosperous and was abandoned. 

THE RED WING STONEWARE COMPANY. 

The beginning of this now prosperous and extensive 
industry was in February, 1877. A meeting was held 



2^2 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

by the citizens of Red Wing to consider the subject of 
organizing a company for the manufacture of stoneware, 
which resulted in the appointment of a committee to 
prepare articles of incorporation, and also a committee 
to solicit subscriptions to stock. The capital stock was, 
at the time the articles were signed, fixed at ten thou- 
sand dollars. 

The first six months after the organization of this 
company was spent in experimenting with the use of a 
small kiln, and obtaining such information as was nec- 
essary in the prosecution of the enterprise. Early in 
August the work of grading for the foundation of the 
present works commenced. This enterprise proved to 
be a success from the start. The capital stock was 
doubled at the close of the first year. Their ware was 
soon found to be of a superior quality and the sales in- 
creased rapidly. The capital stock is now $80,000. 
The works embrace in all twelve buildings covering 
over two acres of ground. The main shop is 50x150 feet 
and two stories high. Three lines of railroad enter the 
yards, the Milwaukee & Chicago, Minneapolis & St. 
Louis, as well as the Duluth, Eed Wing & Southern. 
By the last named road clay is brought to the clay 
sheds and the ware is carried away by all three to mar- 
kets in some twenty states and also to Canada. 

This company manufactures stoneware of all kinds, 
including yellow and white ware of the finest finish 
and most exquisite coloring, suitable for table service — 
jugs, jars and milk pans of all descriptions. The 
ware has a good reputation for sterling quality wher- 
ever it has been introduced. 

MINNESOTA STONEWARE COMPANY. 

This company was organized in 1883. The plant 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 223 

of this company is in the immediate vicinity of the 
one just mentioned and possesses equal facilities 
for carrying on the same line of business. Over 
one hundred men are employed. The value of the 
product for the year 18U0 was reported to be 5^125,000. 
Since that time important improvements have been 
made and additions to the buildings, in order to meet 
the increasing demands for their wares. 

THE NORTH STAR STONEWARE COMPANY. 

This company was organized within the year just 
past, and operations in the production of stoneware are 
already begun. To one who visits their works and 
notices the extensive preparations that have been made, 
it would seem that this company intended to do busi- 
ness on a larger scale than is done by either of the 
older companies. The capital stock is $100,000. The 
main building is of brick, 210 feet long and 62| in 
width; three stories in height. The engine house and 
clay shed extend beyond the main building 100 feet. 
The plant is located along the main tracks of the Min- 
neapolis & St. Louis and D., R. W. & S. railroads, 
nearly opposite the old stoneware works. 

THE RED WING SEWER PIPE COMPANY 

was incorporated October, 1891, with E. H. Blodgett, 
president ; F. W. Hoyt, secretary ; F. Busch, treas- 
urer ; C. E. Sheldon, superintendent. This company 
operates eight kilns and has a daily output of two and 
one-half or three cars of ware, or 800 cars a year. They 
employ forty or fifty men. The pipe made by this 
company is the best produced by any factory in the 
United States; a ware that is thoroughly vitrified, 
highly glazed, compact body, smooth, and is conceded 



224: HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

by all users of the article to be superior to any other 
made. The factory occupies a very prominent place 
overlooking the Mississippi river, and located on the C. 
M. & St. P., M. & St. L., and D., R. W. & S. railroads, 
together with C. & N. W. connections, and with the 
Mississippi river on one side, making it possible to ship 
in any direction and over almost any road in the coun- 
try, and also to secure the lowest freight rates. This 
company is the pioneer manufacturer of sewer pipe in 
the Northwest. 

A second sewer pipe manufactory, located a few 
rods west of the old fair grounds in Red Wing, is now in 
progress and will in a short time commence turning 
out its products. This company have secured twenty 
acres of land on which to erect the necessary buildings 
and have ample room for other purposes. The engine 
and boiler rooms are under the same roof and occupy 
the space of 96x106 feet. The main structure is three 
stories high, and is 72x252 feet, ground space. Seven 
kilns are already constructed. An artesian well has 
been bored on the premises, 432 feet in depth, which 
throws water ffoni q,n eight^inch tiibe some fifteen feet 
above the surface. The capital stock of this company 
is $200,000. 

RED WING IRON WORKS. 

These works are located on the corner of Bush and 
Levee streets and are owned and managed by the Dens- 
more Bros. The buildings were completed in 1866, at 
a cost of $12,000. Tlie material is brick and stone. 
The buildings include a store room, blacksmith shop, 
foundry, boiler room and other minor ajipartments. In 
1874 their shops were destroyed by fire, and in sixty 
days were rebuilt and in operation again. Twelve men 




II:: 










HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 225 

are constantly employed at the works and at times fif- 
teen or twenty. All kinds of iron work is done at the 
establishment. A large amount of mill machinery and 
hundreds of useful articles are kept in readiness for 
the trade of the surrounding country. 

TROUT BROOK TANNERY. 

This business was established in 1872 by Mr. J. F. 
Porter. His works are located in the valley of Trout 
brook, three miles from the city, and his business com- 
prises the tanning of hides of all descriptions. The 
main building is 122x30 feet, three stories high, and 
there are three structures of less dimensions; the whole 
plant is valued at $12,000. Employs about fifteen men. 
Mr. Porter enjoys a large and increasing business. His 
products have a high standing wherever they have come 
into market. 

Near his tannery, on the same stream, Mr. Porter 
has a mill for the manufacture of sorgum syrup, having 
the capacity of one thousand gallons in twenty-four 
hours. 

There is also another manufactory of this kind 
only five and one-half miles east of Red Wing, owned 
and managed by N. H. and Paul Post, which has the 
reputation of producing the best of syrup, and of equal 
capacity with the mill first named. 

There are other lines of manufacture represented in 
Red Wing, such as carriages, Avagons and sleighs, tin- 
ware, harness, boots and shoes, marble works, and such 
as may be found in every town of importance in the 
State. No city of its size can boast of better transpor- 
tation facilities. Situated on the Mississippi river, 
where large freight and passenger steamers are passing 



2^6 HISTOKY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

almost daily through all the summer, it enjoys a water 
competition with the railroads, a benefit that is ap- 
preciated. Four railroads now enter the city. 

Red Wing is naturally a distributing point for a 
wide area, and is doubtless destined to become a large 
manufacturing city. The business interests of the 
place have almost invariably been represented by men 
of energy and thrift, who have prospered because al- 
ways alive to every enterprise calculated for the public 
good. The failure of a business firm in Eed Wing is a 
thing almost unknown. The banks have always done 
business on a solid basis. There are three of these in- 
stitutions, and all have been established by permanent 
residents and built up by home capital. There is also 
a savings bank connected with the Goodhue County 
bank. The statement was made during the present 
season that the aggregate amount of deposits in all 
these institutions, was somewhere near one million of 
dollars. 

The protection against fires now enjoyed by the 
people of this city is a matter of congratulation to 
all who may wish to make a home here. The excel- 
lent system of water works, supplying an abundance of 
water for the purpose in every part of the city, has 
been tested. The fire department is on the voluuteer 
plan, but its members are partly paid. It numbers 
about sixty men. There are ten alarm boxes; one 
hook and ladder truck, one Silsby steamer, one chemical 
engine, four hose carts, and an abundance of hose. 
There is also a fire police force connected with the fire 
department. During the past eight years, the losses by 
fire have been quite small. 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 227 

RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. 

These two interests, which are the basis of civiliza- 
tion and human progress, have received a goodly share 
of attention by the citizens of the place from the very 
beginning. 

Gen. James S. Brisbin, when about to retire from 
the service in the U. S. army, having in the course of 
his military career had the advantage of becoming 
acquainted with all parts of the country, wisely chose 
Red Wing for his future home. In a letter of his, pub- 
lished in the Army Journal, he thus writes : 

" Red Wing is a city of homes, and perhaps more 
people own their homes and houses in this place than 
in any city of equal size in the Northwest. Nearly 
every home is beautified with trees, lawns, shrubs, flow- 
ers, and not a few adorned with statuary and picturesque 
verandas. 

"When the fathers laid out this city they laid as its 
corner stone, education and religion. It is one of the 
most beautiful sights in the world to see, on Sabbath 
here, the thousand of people pouring along the streets 
towards the places of worship. Everybody goes ; it is 
the proper thing to do, and you have to go to church. 
No saloons or bars, no theatres or beer gardens, are 
open on the Sabbath day in this goodly city. The 
schools are the very best in the Northwest and educa- 
tion is free to all." 

The school was the first public institution estab- 
lished in Red Wing. While there were but half a dozen 
children in the settlement, a school was kept in one of 
the log houses built by the missionaries to the Indians. 
Before any public funds were available for the purpose. 



228 HISTOBY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

tlie teachers had to depend upon tuition fees paid by 
parents who sent their children. The first school house 
was erected by private subscription; a very unpreten- 
tious structure, costing only $200. This, with rented 
rooms in different localities, served the purpose of pub- 
lic school accommodations till 1865, when the Central 
school house was erected. The furniture of the first 
school rooms was the home-made and hand-made kind. 
It was of the same primitive style used by a former 
generation; constructed from pine plank ; very conveni- 
ent for the use of pocket knives. Whenever a rented 
school room was wanted by its owner for some purpose 
of greater advantage to himself — which was frequently 
the case in a growing city — it was the duty of the 
trustees to look up another room. And it was custom- 
ary, in those days, during school vacations, to see the 
honorable board of trustees engaged in conveying the 
long benches and double pine desks, sadly whittled, 
from one place to another. 

The Hamline University, opening so early here, was 
a great advantage. This institution received scholars 
of all grades, and it afforded a relief to the crowded and 
ill-furnished public schools for the time being, nearly all 
scholars over twelve years old in the place enjoying 
the privileges it afforded up to the beginning of the 
civil war. 

On looking back to the days of laying the founda- 
tion, and the limited facilities then enjoyed, compared 
with those enjoyed at the present day for obtaining an 
education, the school children of to-day may well be 
thankful. They should realize the fact that success in 
education does not depend upon the advantages given, 
but upon the diligent and persevering improvement of 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 229 

such as they have. Many of our great statesmen had 
very meagre scl ool privileges. Many of our best citi- 
zens, the fathers and mothers of to-day, were the schol- 
ars of our primitive schools thirty years ago. Many of 
these who attended our early schools in Eed Wing are 
among the leaders in the various professions and em- 
ployments they have chosen to pursue, wherever they 
have gone abroad. John Lind and Martin Maginnis, 
Members of Congress, and John Arkins, editor of the 
Denver A^ews, were once school boys in Eed AVing. 
Two young ladies, now in Europe perfecting themselves 
in the art of music, are native born and spent their 
school daj^s in this city. Other names might be given 
of those who were scholars here, and who have become 
successful, as preachers, lawyers, teachers, physicians, 
dentists, bankers, editors, and merchants, in other parts 
of the world. 

At the present time there are five large, well-fur- 
nished public school buildings in the city. The teaching 
force employed consists of a superintendent, a principal 
of the high school, one music teacher, a teacher of 
drawing, and thirty teachers of the common branches, 
each of the latter having charge of a separate room, 
with accommodations for sixty scholars. The total 
enrollment of all the schools at the present time is 
nearly 1,800. The rapid growth of our manufactories 
indicates that another large school building will be a 
necessity in the near future. 

There are at the present time fourteen church edi- 
fices and fifteen church congregations in this city. Out 
of the seven thousand inhabitants probably six thou- 
sand are in attendance at some place of worship on the 
Sabbath, at least some part of the day. The first three 



230 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

organized religions societies in the place were the 
Methodist, Presbyterian and Baptist. All of these were 
effected in the log school room of the Indian mission, 
which for a time was the only room used for public 
worship. 

The Episcopal church is located on Third street, 
between East and West aA'enues. It is a large stone 
structure, capable of seating 600 adult persons. The 
church property is valued at $35,000. 

The IMethodist Episcopal church is located at the 
corner of Fourth street and East avenue. It has a very 
large seating capacity with a basement containing a 
Sabbath school and lecture room. The property is 
valued at $22,000. 

The Presbyterian church is located at the corner of 
Sixth street and East avenue. The property is valued 
at $13,000. 

The Catholic church is located at the corner of 
Sixth and North Park streets. The property is valued 
at $26,000. 

The Swedish Lutheran church is located at the cor- 
ner of West avenue and Fifth street. It has the largest 
audience room and largest membership of any. The 
congregation numbers over 1,000. The number of 
communicants is 600. The church property is valued 
at $13,000. 

The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Mission church 
is on Sixth street, west of VV^est avenue. The property 
is valued at $5,000. 

The Norwegian Lutheran church is located at the 
corner of Sixth and Bush streets. The property is 
valued at $5,000. 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 231 

The German Lutheran church is located at the 
corner of Fifth street and East avenue, with a property 
value of $10,000. 

St. Peter's Norwegian Lutlieran church is located at 
the corner of Seventh and Bush streets. The property 
is valued at $7,000. 

The Norwegian Danish M. E. church is located at 
the corner of Sixth and Potter streets. The property 
is valued at $2,000. 

The Swedish M. E. church is located at the corner 
of Seventh street and East avenue. The property is 
valued at $3,000. 

The German M. E. church is located at the corner 
of West avenue and Seventh street. This property is 
valued at $10,000. 

St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran church is located 
on West avenue, between Third and Fourth streets. 
The property is valued at $3,000. 

The First Baptist church is located on East avenue, 
between Third and Fourth streets. The property is 
valued at $5,000. 

The Swedish Baptist church is located at present on 
East Fifth street, where they now meet to worship in a 
building standing on the lot which they have pur- 
chased, with the intention of soon erecting a church 
edifice. 

Olivet chapel, situated on the corner of South Park 
aud Fourteenth streets, is devoted to Sunday school 
work. 

OAKWOOD CEMETERY. 

The citizens of Eed Wing were very fortunate in 
selecting grounds at an early day for the repose of the 



232 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

dead. Late in the autumn of 1854, David Hancock and 
S. A. Hart — the latter was our first county surveyor — 
were empowered by the Claim association, which really 
represented the entire community, to go and select a 
tract of forty acres, which should be a suitable place 
for a city cemetery. . The government survey of the 
laud having not yet been made they were unre- 
strained by section lines. They fixed upon an eligible 
plat, which included a large portion of the present site. 
Subsequently Smith, Towne & Co., who had acquired 
the title to all that region, deeded the same to the city. 
Their deed to the city bears date December 9, 1857. 
The addition of a strip, thirty-three feet wide and 850 
feet long along the easterly part of the north line was 
secured by deed from Phelps & Graham in 1865, thus 
completing the cemetery tract in its present form. 
Upon the margin of the plat of survey subdividing the 
ground into blocks and lots, is the following certificate: 

I hereby certify that this is a true plat of cemetery, as sur- 
veyed by me. 

A. D. 1863. S. A. Hart, Surveyor. 

A city ordinance, framed by the Hon. W. C. Willis- 
ton, was passed the 27th of April, 1865, designating the 
title "Oakwood" to the cemetery, and giving directions 
for the management of its aflPairs, remained in force un- 
til superseded by the passage of an ordinance in 1889, 
which is now in force. The last ordinance was passed 
after an additional chapter to the city charter had been 
enacted by the legislature, to effect this purpose. A 
board of trustees has since been appointed by the city 
council upon whom devolves the care and management 
of cemeteries controlled by the city. 

Previous to the platting of lots in Oakwood, burials 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 233 

were made here and there upon the grounds, as fancy 
in each case dictated. No sexton was in charge, but 
the neighbors turned out, or help was hired and burials 
effected, wirhout any proper registry, and, as a natural 
result, the locations of many graves have been lost. 

The first burial made in these grounds is now be- 
lieved to be that of a John Williams, who died of chol- 
era, the disease taken on the steamer which landed him 
at this place in 1854. That tireless friend of the friend- 
less, W. W. DeKay, selected the spot for the burial, 
and, with the assistance of W. \Y. Morse, dug the grave 
and laid the remains of the unfortunate stranger in 
their last resting place. The present board of trustees 
report that "to the continued and unflagging interest 
taken by Mr. DeKay in the affairs of the cemetery, its 
welfare is most deeply indebted." The remains of that 
kind and well remembered citizen now rest within its 
precincts. 

Under the management of the board of trustees ap- 
pointed by the city council in April, 1891, of whom 
Daniel Deusmore is president, the appearance of Oak- 
wood cemetery has been greatly improved. It has be- 
come a place of common resort by all classes of citizens, 
when leisure is granted them for a few hours' walk or 
ride in the open air. When friends from abroad come 
to visit the place, every one takes pride in showing 
them the resting place of our belovedwho have de- 
parted this life. 

In a pamphlet published by the board of trustees, 
the following very appropriate description is given: 

"To the stately beauty and tranquil retirement of 
the grassy burial lawns, there are added, as attractions, 
the startling heights and depths of the canyon parks, 



234 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

that, cutting deeply into the plat, ensure to Oakwood 
cemetery, within itself, a grandeur of fine scenery pos- 
sessed by few preserves of this character. 

"And yet again, the grand panorama presented from 
that elevated outlook, of lake and river curve, of bluff 
and uplands and hazy headlands in the miles away, and 
nearer, the exquisite picturiugs of hill and dale and cliff 
and shining wood, by which nature has so charmingly 
environed our city, constitutes an expanse of superbly 
magnificent scenery, not surpassed in any but an actu- 
ally mountainous region. Did Oakwood cemetery pos- 
sess in scenic ornament but this one attraction, it were 
enough to entitle the place to marked consideration; 
but blending all these diverse and rare characteristics 
it is worthy the most liberal admiration of every lover of 
the varied forms and moods of landscape beauty," 



CHAPTEE XVIL 

RED WING CONTINUED. 

The natural advantages of its location and the 
beauty of the surrounding scenery, made Ked Wing at- 
tractive to settlers at an early day in the history of the 
State. Some of the best people from the eastern states 
chose to make their homes hero rather than in St. Paul. 
Hence, the social advantages have always been superior 
to those in most western cities. A large percentage of 
the population are well educated. Good schools and 
good society have been the rule almost without excep- 
tion. 

The county seat of a large county for thirty-eight 
years, and yet no criminal has been executed here, and 
no mob has ever disturbed the peace of the city. True, 
the jail was once entered by a band of men from a 
country town, in the night time, for the purpose of exe- 
cuting lynch law upon a prisoner confined there, but 
the courage of one man, a deputy sheriff, defeated their 
designs, while the sleeping citizens were undisturbed. 

Our citizens have generally united in a hearty cele- 
bration of Freedom's birth-day each returning Fourth 
of July. It was on one of these occasions, daring the 
progress of the civil war, that a gibbet was erected on 
Broadway and the solemn spectacle of hanging an im- 
age, dressed in man's attire, took place amid a crowd 
of witnesses. That image represented the president of 
the Southern Confederacy. 



236 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

A variety of social organizations exist and are pros- 
perous, devoted to moral and intellectual improvement. 
The various orders of secret societies are represented 
here and are each performing the work appointed them. 

Two very efficient organizations for life insurance 
were organized by the leading business men of the 
place and retain their headquarters here, though doing 
extensive business throughout the Northwest. The 
Northwestern Endowment and Legacy Association and 
the Minnesota Scandinavian Relief Association are 
both well known institutions of standard character. 

THE CITY HOSPITAL. 

This institution is located at present on Dakota 
street, between Main and Levee streets. It was begun 
and managed for several years as the County Hospital, 
but on the completion of the new county alms-house, 
three miles west of the city, it was turned over to the 
city authorities. The object is to provide a home, 
proper medical aid and nursing for the sick and suffer- 
ing of all classes, who may, on any account, need such 
provision. Patients are received and cared for whether 
able to pay or not. Those who have sick friends, can, 
and do often, find it a great convenience to provide for 
them here. The hospital is seldom without charitable 
patients. There are at present suitable accommoda- 
tions for only about ten at one time. In March, 1891, 
while the city council hesitated to make an appropria- 
tion for the support of a hospital, and it was understood 
that the county commissioners had transferred their 
patients to the alms-house, an association of Eed Wing 
ladies was formed, who, by giving one dollar each, 
raised about $700 towards perpetuating the services of 



HISTOKY or GOODHUE COUNTY. 237 

the hospital in the city. It is understood that a dona- 
tion of 1100 from a private citizen is yearly given for 
the same purpose. The city council finally appropri- 
ated $500 last year and $1,000 the present year, and the 
hospital is continued, doing a good work. 

The only need now is a larger building, farther re- 
moved from the noise of daily business, and it is hoped 
that the necessity will shortly be supplied by some one 
of the many benevolent people, who have already shown 
that they appreciate the luxury of doing good. 

Many instances have occurred in the history of this 
town, when the abundant hospitality and kindness of 
its citizens towards the unfortunate strangers, who 
have been from time to time thrown upon them, has 
been remarkably shown. A large number of persons 
were landed from a steamer, in the summer of 1854, at 
the levee, who were afflicted with the cholera and they 
were as tenderly cared for by the citizens as if they had 
been near relatives. Dr. W. W. Sweney, our first M. 
D., always ready to lend his skill and time to relieve 
the afflicted, rendered good service on that occasion to 
the sick ones and told the healthful how to avoid the 
epidemic. Out of seventeen cases, ten recovered and 
went to their destination in the country. 

The last occasion when the cholera patients were 
left at this port was in 1868. Dr. C. N. Hewitt, the 
present Secretary of the State Board of Health, had be- 
come a resident of Red Wing. He immediately visited 
them at the levee and rendered them the proper medi- 
cal aid. At the expense of the city and under the di- 
rection of the city marshal, a house was provided on the 
island opposite, furnished with cots, where all were 
taken and tenderly cared for by those who loved to do 



238 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

unto others as they would be done by. The dead were 
properly interred and the epidemic spread no further. 

When the call came for aid to the sufferers by the 
great fire in Chicago, this city and immediate vicinity 
responded by sending one carload of flour, two carloads 
of potatoes and a cash collection of over $1,000. 

A few years later when a call came for aid from the 
citizens of our own State who had lost all their crops by 
the ravages of the grasshoppers, a similar response was 
cheerfully given by the people of this city. In this 
case the gifts were made at different times and through 
different channels, and the aggregate cannot now be 
known. 

Last, though not least of the acts which character- 
ize this city and county for beneficence, is that which 
was done for the sufferers by the late famine in Russia. 

The following report was made by Daniel C. Hill, 
who was appointed by the governor of the state to re- 
ceive the donations from churches and individuals for 
the relief of the Russians: Received from the Evan- 
gelical Lutheran church of Yasa, seventy and a half 
barrels of flour; from the town of Leon fifty and a half 
barrels; from the town of Featherstone fifty-eight bar- 
rels; from the town of Goodhue nineteen barrels; from 
the town of Welch thirty-nine barrels; from Zumbrota 
and vicinity eighty-two barrels; from other towns seven 
and a htilf barrels; from Red Wing 136i barrels. 

The city has been favored occasionally by distin- 
guished persons passing through, and whenever such 
have seen fit to make a call, our citizens have always 
been ready to give them a hearty welcome. 

When President Hayes visited the Northwest in 
1878, accompanied by his wife and children, with several 



filSTOEY OP GOODHUE COUNTY. 239 

other citizens of Washington, the party visited first the 
State fair in St. Paul, afterwards journeying to Fargo on 
the Northern Pacific Raihoad, visiting some of the great 
wheat fields of North Dakota. Returning on the same 
route, they sent a message that they would give Red 
Wing a call. Preparations were soon made to give them 
a reception. The train on which the presidential party 
were to arrive was due at 4 p. m. At the appointed 
hour the mayor and council were at the depot with car- 
riages to accompany them to the St. James hotel. The 
children of the public schools Avere marshalled in line 
at the head of Broadway and greeted the president and 
his lady as the carriages were driven up from the depot. 
Thousands of citizens thronged the streets while the 
party were being conveyed to the hotel, and a cro'Nvd 
gathered at the crossing of Main and Bush streets await- 
ing the appearance of the president and Mrs. Hayes. 
Mayor Hodgman soon appeared upon the balcony front- 
ing Main street, accompanied by the distinguished 
guests. After the cheering subsided, the mayor in a 
brief and pertinent speech, introduced the president of 
the United States. The president then addressed the 
multitude for half an hour, in words which were duly 
appreciated. Then followed an opportunity for all to 
pass in and shake hands, which opportunity was fully 
improved. A sumptuous collation was given by the 
citizens in the spacious dining hall of the St. James 
and the distinguished party bade adieu to the city of 
bluffs and church spires and started on the train at 9:50 
p. m. on their homeward journey. 

A few years later. President Cleveland and huly 
passed through on their tour to the Pacific coast. Their 
call was a brief one, but long enough to give the as- 



240 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

sembled crowd a good view of the pleasant faces of the 
honored couple as they stood upon the platform of the 
car. while the train passed. A small box was presented 
to Mrs. Cleveland by the employes of the Red Wing 
Stoneware factory, containing specimens of their handi- 
work, which compliment was handsomely acknowledged 
by the receiver afterward. 

Ex-president Grant, James G. Blaine and Charles 
Parnell, have each given this city such a call as the 
passing trains allowed ; to whom proper respect was 
shown by the citizens, in proportion to the time given. 
The above instances have been given to show that the 
people of Eed Wing appreciate true merit, and are 
always ready to give honor to whom it is due. 

One event in the history of our city, will long be 
remembered by many as one of the deep, dark shadows 
which often come to shut out the sunlight of human 
life in this world. The disaster which came upon the 
passengers of the steamer Sea W^ing, on Lake Pepin, 
July 13, 1890, was the direst calamity known to have 
come to the homes of the people of Red Wing. 

A delightful excursion on the staunch and beautiful 
steamer named Sea Wing, was advertized to come oflP 
on the day appointed; leaving in the morning at ten 
o'clock and going down the river and lake as far as the 
encampment of the First Regiment, M. N. G., a little 
below Lake City, there to remain a few hours, and re- 
turn in the evening. 

The sun shone bright and clear in the morning for 
the excursion. Everything was promising for a delight- 
ful summer day. The steamer started from Diamond 
BluflP, Wis., where the owners of the vessel lived, at 
about eight o'clock a. m., towing a barge bound for the 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 241 

excursion trip, with a crew of ten men and eleven pas- 
sengers; stopped at Trenton and took twenty-two per- 
sons; and at Eed Wing about 165 more went aboard; 
all bound for the same destination. The trip down was 
as pleasant as could be desired, and the stay at Camp 
Lake View enjoyed. From about five o'clock p. m., 
storm indications were visible to the north and west. 
A tornado in fact occurred not far from St. Paul at the 
time. Captain Wethern believed it safe to venture 
out, and the boat, with all the excursionists and some 
others on board, left Lake City a little past eight 
o'clock in the evening, on the return. A storm was 
evidently gathering, the wind blowing by signal service 
measurement, sixty miles an hour. When near the 
middle of the lake some five miles above Lake City, the 
Sea Wing was suddenly and completely capsized. A 
cry was heard, "Cut the barge loose." The ropes were 
immediately cut which bound the boat and barge to- 
gether; they soon drifted apart and were driven ashore 
separately. All who were on the barge were saved. 
Life preservers had been pointed out to passengers on 
the steamer before it capsized and some had put them on. 
Mauy were imprisoned in the cabin; others suddenly 
caught, or injured in such a way they were unable to 
escape. Planks, boards and chairs were floating about 
and some saved their lives by clinging to such things; 
others by swimming. The clouds were so thick that 
only by the flashes of lightning could any one see to 
gain help, or to render any. The winds and waves, to- 
gether with swimmers who were trying to rescue some, 
landed them at points widely separate. As soon as the 
barge grounded, the men jumped out and waded through 
the surf to the shore and ran to Lake City and the 

17 



242 HISTOEY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

Camp for help. Skiffs and men were obtained, and 
soon vigorously employed in picking up survivors and 
bringing off from the wreck those still alive. The whole 
of the remainder of the night was spent in rescuing the 
living and bringing the dead to shore. Early Monday 
morning, the steamer Ethel Howard arrived in Red 
Wing with forty-two bodies on board. Later two other 
steamers brought up some twenty-three more. The 
lake was vigilantly searched for three days and dyna- 
mite used, until the last missing body was raised on 
Thursday morning and brought to Red Wing. Busi- 
ness was practically suspended four days. Upon the 
arrival of the remains of victims, they were taken in 
charge by the coroner, until properly identified, and then 
delivered to friends, relatives, or associations claiming 
them for burial. Funerals began on Monday evening 
and continued for the three following days. Ninety- 
eight was the number who perished, seventy-one of 
whom belonged in Red Wing, and were buried here. 
The deceased who had lived at or near Trenton, and 
also those from Diamond Bluff, were taken to their 
former homes where the last sad rites were performed 
for them. 

The services at the respective funerals were neces- 
sarily brief. The sermons in the churches on the fol- 
lowing Sabbath had particular reference to the great 
calamity, and were aimed to give consolation to the 
heart stricken mourners. But public sentiment de- 
manded something more. A day was therefore set 
apart by the common council of the city, for memo- 
rial services to be held in the park for those who had 
perished. Committees were appointed to make the 
necessary arrangements for services, decorations, and 



HISTOKY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 243 

the reception of those from abroad. The day appointed 
was the 25th of July. A printed pamphlet was issued 
soon after, giving a full account of the proceedings of 
that day, entitled: "In memory of those who perished 
in the disaster to the steamer Sea Wing," from which 
we shall give a few extracts as follows: 

(irand, yet simple, solemn, yet comforting, were the services 
commemorative of Lake Pepin's greatest catastrophe. The sun 
shone from an almost cloudless sky, a haze intercepting the full 
force of its rays. A gentle breeze agitated the air, the sole re- 
maining requisite for a perfect summer day. The majority of 
the business establishments were early appropriately draped with 
t)lack and white, expressive of general sorrf)w. At noon the stores 
were closed, the factories shut down, and the citizens as a whole 
prepared to join in the observance of the day. 

Thanks to the genero iS co-operation of the ladies, both those 
named on the committee, and others, the floral decorations were 
abundant and the most beautiful ever seen in our city. From 
the north gate entrance to the jjark, a picture was presented that 
brought tears to many eyes. Tributes from loving hands and 
loving hearts were everywhere visible. Above the gate itself was 
raised a high arch draped in mourning; from the center was sus- 
pended a magnificent star. On the other three gates were raised 
dark pillars appropriately draped and hung with wreaths and 
garlands. In the avenue, leading up to the platform in the center 
of the park, garlands were festooned from the trees on both sides. 
Midway between the speaker's stand and the main entrance, 
stood an obelisk twenty feet high, bearing the ninety-eight names, 
of those in whose memory the services were held. A dark and 
beautiful ivy encircled the obelisk softening its marble hue, and 
a tiny boquet of flowers had Vjeen placed by each inscription- 
The names were inscribed on one side of diamond shaped mourn- 
ing cards, the other side bearing the date of the disaster. These 
were festooned to the obelisk in such a manner that at the close 
of the services they could be removed by friends and taken home 
as souvenirs, with the tiny boquet and wreath. .Just beyond the 
obelisk, on a stand most ingeniously wrought of rustic birch, 
stood a magnificent floral tribute, a proof of the kind and symjia- 



244 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

thetic hearts of the people of Lake City. It was a floral mound, 
four feet square and about four feet high. Each of the four 
corners bore a different design. On the front side, looking to- 
wards the gate, was the word " Hope" most artistically fashioned 
of small white flowers, while on the side facing the obelisk the 
word " Rest" lay imbedded in dark moss. In the center of the 
mound, resting on a snowy ground of white roses, stood a cross 
and anchor, each nearly two feet high. The cross was of yellow 
roses, and the anchor was of tuberoses with a rope of smilax. 

The speaker's stand was festooned with black and white 
drapery, garlands and wreaths. Over the top floated the flag at 
half mast. Across the canopy in front was an arch, bearing the 
motto, " We weep together,'" made of flowers over a black back 
ground. A large platform on the right presented a white wall 
with the following: 

The youth in life's green spring, and he who goes 
In the full strength of years, matron and maid 
And the sweet babe and the grey headed man. 
Shall one by one be gathered to thy side 
By those who in their turn shall follow them. 

On the left side a similar wall had these words : 

Let us be patient these severe afflictions 

Not from the ground arise, 
But ottentimes celestial benedictions 

Assume this dark disguise. 

Along the whole front of the speaker's stand, was a wide mem- 
orial bank of offerings. These were tributes from individuals and 
societies, comprising varied and numerous designs of crosses, 
wreaths, anchors and pillows; also a beautiful tribute represent- 
ing " Gates Ajar." At the close of the exercises, these, with a 
large number on several adjoining stands, were presented to the 
friends and relatives of the departed ones. Besides these, crosses* 
three and four feet high, were arranged around the park, while 
many beautiful emblems, presented by different societies, were 
suspended from the svirrounding trees. Upon one of the stands 
were tablets with the following verses: 
Via Crucis. Via Lucis. 
Through night to light ; and though to mortal eyes 
Creation's face a pall of horror wears 

Good cheer 1 (iood cheer ! The gloom of midnight flies. 
Then whall the sunrise follow, mild and fair. 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 245 

Through cross to crown ! And though thy spirit's life 
Trials untold assail with giant strength. 

Good cheer I Good cheer ! Soon ends the bitter strife, 
And though shalt reign in peace with Christ at length. 

Through woe to joy I And though at morn thou weep, 
And though tlie midnight find thee weeping still, 

Good cheer I Good cheer ! The shepherd loves his sheep. 
Resign thee to the watchful Father's will. 

Though death to life ! And through this vale of tears, 
And through this thistle field of life ascend, 

To the great supper in that world whose years 
Of bliss unfading, cloudless, know no end. 

With the early trains there came people to the city from 
above and below, residents of neighboring cities, old citizens of 
Red Wing, and friends of the atilicted, all to join in the general 
expression of sorrow and sympathy. 

At two o'clock the bells of the city commenced tolling. It 
was the signal for assemblage. The mourners came, the societies 
formed at their headquarters, and marched to the park, where 
all were received by the reception committee, and conducted to 
seats. 

Along each side of the entrance were drawn up a line of mem- 
bers of the local militia company, while the tire department 
patrolled the grounds. 

Shortly after these had arrived, came a special train from 
Lake City, and at the same time another arrived from Rochester. 
With the former came about five hundred people, and with the 
latter nearly two hundred from Rochester and Zvimbrota. A 
large delegation also came from Cannon Falls. After the seat- 
ing of the visitors, the park was thrown open for general admis- 
sion. Seats had been provided for 2,500 people. These seats were 
all filled and as many more people were standing. 

In the grand stand were seated the speakers, ministers, officers 
of the day and members of the committees. In the temporary 
stand, directly to the back, were the ladies of the decorating com- 
mittee, the singers and invited guests. The mourners occupied 
seats to the right. 

The services were opened by Hon. E. T. Wilder at three o'clock 
and proceeded in the following order : 

Invocation — Rev. J. W. Hancock. 

Reading of resolutions— Hon. F. M. Wilson. 



246 HISTOKY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

Reading of messages— Ex-Gov. L. F. Hubbard. 

Hymn, "Rock of Ages"— Chorus. 

Oration— Gen. 8. P. Jennison. 

Selection, " The Chapel"— By the Cc. G Glee Club. 

Address— Hon. W. C. Williston. 

" Lead Kindly Light"— Mrs. Crouse and Choir. 

Address— Hon. Wesley Kinney. 

Hymn — Swedish Lutheran Choir. 

Address— Hon. O. M. Hall. 

Hymn " In the Hour of Trial"— Co. G Glee Club. 

Address— Rev. W. C. Rice. 

Benediction— Rev. J. Wynne Jones. 

The exercises were solemn and impressive throughout. A 
few paragraphs selected from the addresses will show the tone of 
public feeling on the occasion : 

Oh you, who mourn for relatives or friends, torn from life and 
you, by fair, false, cruel, heartless Nature ; there is something 
besides earth, air and water ; something besides birds, beasts and 
man ; something besides color and form, and all which ministers 
to the pleasures of sense. These, alas, you feel are nothing by the 
side of the love through which you are wounded. But there re- 
mains also love through which you may be comforted and healed. 
The world with love is not cheerless. Even with such love as 
remains to him who is most bereaved, it is noble, inspiring. Love 
conquers all. Even that which we feel for strangers wronged, or 
in sore distress ; call it sympathy, brotherly love, philanthropy 
or what you will, it is everywhere and conquers all. It over- 
masters the love of money, which is the root of all evil. 

Under the string of a musical instrument, place a support, 
or bridge, dividing the string into two unequal lengths. If now 
you make the shorter part to sound, the longer one will vibrate 
plainly, in sympathy. The sympathetic vibrations of the longer 
part, not touched at all, actually reinforces the sound of the 
shorter, making its tone sweeter and stronger than if it had no 
connection with the other part. 

It is not for me to attempt to draw '' the lesson of the hour" 
from the calamity which has caused this gathering. Neither 
would it become me to attempt to offer consolation to those who 
weep. Such duties appropriately devolve upon those called to 
a higher, holier work than mine. 

It has been said that " Calamity is man's true touchstone," 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 247 

and never had that thought truer expression and veritication 
than in the acts of those among us, who not of those who mourn 
the loss of relatives or friends, by their deeds gave the evidence 
that beyond all business or pleasure the sorrow of their friends, 
neighbors and fellow citizens, were theirs also. 

When was brought to this city, the news of the sad ending of 
that which had so happy a beginning, then was thrown aside all 
selfish aims and struggles, all thoughts of self, and in the hearts 
of all entered the higher, holier feeling of sympathy with, and 
sorrow for, their fellow men, in the hour of their great grief; and 
actions were convincing proofs 

That there is no dearth of kindness 
In this cold world of ours. 

Acts such as we have witnessed within the past few days 
furnish convincing proof that God has made all men of one blood. 
As in sorrow's dark hour we sympathize with our brother for that 
grief we cannot heal, and while with one hand we clasp 
his, and stretch the other forth to our common Father, asking 
His love and pity for the afflicted one, we know that we are 
nearer our brother man, and feel that we are nearer our God. 

There is in this terrible disaster, which has taken these 
loved ones from us, something worth thinking about — a lesson, 
an object lesson, too vivid and impressive to be neglected. 

In our eager struggle for the good things of this world, in our 
frenzied efforts to add a little more to our stock of accumulated 
dollars, in the petty selfishness t)f this thing we call " business,'' 
in this era of speculation and rapacity, have we so lived, have we 
neglected so to live, that there must needs come to us, as to the 
erring children of Israel, this chastening and correcting manifes- 
tation of the power of the Almighty? I do not know; these are 
the words of the preacher. But in the face of the wreck of the 
Sea Wing, they equally become the heart and the tongue of the 
man of business. 

One thing is certain, that in a blameless and useful life on 
earth and a reliant faith on the mercy of " Him who doth the 
ravens feed'" is found the best preparation for, and the strongest 
guarantee of, the eternal future. 

In two hours the fury of the storm was spent, the clouds 
drifted beyond the horizon, the stars sparkled above, the waters 



248 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

were still and placid. After the etorm, quiet. After the struggle, 
rest. After terror, peace. After death, the unknown future. 
Is there not in this something typical of the hereafter? Of the 
eternal life promised by Him who walked upon the waters? 
Who " arose and rebuked the wind and said unto the sea, ' Peace 
be still,' by Him who has left to us all that priceless covenant of 
hope and consolation.'" " I am the resurrection and the life. He 
that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES. 
BELVIDERE. 

This is a full government township situated in the 
eastern part of the county — No. Ill north, range 14 
west. Wells creek rises in the northwestern part of 
the town, running north and east, is fed by Clear and 
Rock creeks, afterward crossing the northern boundary 
into Hay Creek township. 

The northern part of Belvidere is somewhat broken 
by these streams, but the soil is good and the streams 
afford excellent facilities for raising stock. The south- 
ern part is gently rolling prairie. 

This town was settled in 1855. Mr. N. B. Gay lord, 
and his brother George, coming early in the season, first 
settled on Rock creek. Mr. J. S. Thompson settled on 
Wells creek in August the same year. Mr. Gaylord 
soon after removed to Wells Creek and settled near Mr. 
Thompson. Both these men are now residing there 
and are well known citizens. In the fall of that year 
Claus Hoist and several other Germans, with their fam- 
ilies, settled near the head waters of Wells creek. The 
following year a large immigration poured into differ- 
ent parts of the township. The first marriage was the 
union of Mr. George Steel and Miss Junia Pingrey. 
The first child born was Ida Thompson, June 13, 1856. 
The first death was Etta Gaylord, in 1858, two years old. 



250 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

Mr. Gaylord, having a good water power on his farm, 
put in operation a large hand coffee mill and ground for 
himself and neighbors wheat, corn and other grains. 
Having used up two such mills, he next procured a 
small burr-stone mill, and gradually improving his 
primitive enterprise until he became the proprietor of 
a mill with two run of stone and a capacity for grinding 
120 bushels of wheat per day. This coffee mill enter- 
prise began in the year 1858. 

Rev. John Watson held the first religious services 
in the house of N. B. Gaylord, in the summer of 1856. 
Miss Delia Eggleston taught the first school in a room 
of her father's house in 1857. 

A cosy log church was built by the German Metho- 
dists near Gaylord's mill in 1862 at a cost of S300. 
This society now has a large frame church. In 1865 
the Catholics erected a good frame church in the south- 
ern part of the town. The Norwegian Lutherans built 
a large church in the western part of the town in 1867. 
A German Lutheran church in the eastern part of the 
town was built in 1872. Belvidere has now five fine 
churches, an adequate number of good school houses, a 
thrifty population, engaged chiefly in farming and rais- 
ing stock. Large barns and fine houses can be seen on 
nearly every farm. 

BELLE CREEK. 

This township is numbered 111 north, range 16 west, 
and is situated nearly in the center of the county. The 
stream called Belle creek flows through the western 
side, affording fair water power, and is bordered by fine 
hay meadows, and occasionally ledges of lime stone. 
In the vicinity of the creek are scattering groves of oak, 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY, 251 

white birch, and poplar, but a large portion of the town 
is rich prairie land. 

A. G. Kemp and Chas. Roos, natives of Sweden, 
made a settlement here in the fall of 1853, but soon 
after moved across the line into the town of Vasa. 

In July, 1854, Walter Doyle with five sons and one 
daughter, came and settled on sections four and five. 
James O'Neal and family came at the same time. In 
the same month Benoni Hill and family also settled in 
this township. In October following, Rev. S. P. Chand- 
ler made a claim here, but did not move with his family 
to take possession until the spring of 1855. During the 
spring and summer of 1855 a large number of families 
settled here. 

The first white child born in Belle Creek was May 
Cook in August, 1855, daughter of Jacob Cook. The 
second was John Cavanaugh in November, 1855, the son 
of Patrick Cavanaugh. 

The first death was that of Dennis Cavanaugh. In 
the forepart of the winter of 1855-6, he started to go on 
foot ever to his brother's, a distance of about two and a 
half miles. Early in the evening a terrible storm came 
up, he lost his way, and was frozen to death near the 
place now called Hader, being three miles from his 
home and in the opposite direction from the one he 
should have kept in order to reach his brother's house. 
His body Avas not found until the snow went off in the 
spring. 

Lewis White and Emeline Hill were the first couple 
joined in marriage. This event occurred in 1856. Eev. 
S. P. Chandler performed the ceremony. 

The first school was taught by Alvin Herbert in the 



252 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

winter of 1855-6, iu the basement of the house of Mr. 
Kirkpatrick. 

Wheat was raised by Walter Doyle and others in 
1856, a fair yield, and was threshed by hand with flails. 
They carried it to Mazeppa mill to be ground. There 
has been raised iu the town, as high as fifty-six bushels 
per acre of wheat, threshers measure. This was on the 
farm of John Lawson. Michael Doyle raised forty-two 
bushels to the acre (of wheat) on eight acres in the 
year 1860, and Richard Doyle threshed thirty-five 
bushels to the acre from twenty-six acres the same year. 

Belle Creek furnished forty-two volunteer soldiers 
for the war of 1861-5, and paid bounties of $300 each 
to fourteen others. Mr. Walter Doyle sent sons to 
the front during the war, viz : H. M. Doyle, Michael 
Doyle, Walter W. Doyle, John J. Doyle ; and Richard 
Doyle, the remaining son, furnished a substitute. Is 
there another family in the county that can furnish such 
a record? 

•The old stage route from St. Paul to Dubuque passed 
through this town and the stages used to stop at Mr. 
Doyle's log cabin for the night. In the winter of 1854-5 
there was no house in a southern direction on the road 
from this cabin to Oronoco, a distance of twenty- five 
miles. Some of the prominent men of the then terri- 
tory of Minnesota, enjoyed the hospitality of Mr. Doyle, 
among whom were Gov. Ramsey, Gen. Sibley, J. C. 
Burbank, the pioneer expressman, and others. He had 
the privilege of entertaining twenty-six of the principal 
men and chiefs of the Chippewa tribe with " Hole in 
the Day," their head chief, who were on their way to visit 
the great father at Washington. 

The Catholic church was commenced in 1865 and its 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 253 

cost was over $3,000. For some years this was called a 
mission parish, but for the last twelve years there has 
been a resident pastor. 

The Episcopal church was built in 1873 at a cost of 
$1,600, mainly through the patient exertions of Rev. S. 
P. Chandler, who was pastor of that parish until his 
death in 1888. 

The Catholic congregation in this town is the most 
numerous, and the present year they have built a new 
church of larger dimensions for the accommodation of 
their increasing attendance on public worship. 

BURNSIDE. 

This town lies on the Mississippi river joining the 
city of Red Wing on the east, Featherstone on the south, 
and Welch on the west. It includes a large portion of 
the island called Prairie Island, on its northern border. 
The surface is somewhat broken by bluffs and streams 
of water ; the soil is nevertheless rich and fertile. Can- 
non river flows through from west to east, and Spring 
creek through the southeastern part ; both emptying 
into the Mississippi. Numerous springs of clear water 
gush forth from the base of the bluffs, affording abund- 
ance of water for stock and dairy purposes. The town 
was first called Spring Creek, afterward Milton, but in 
1862 the name was changed to Burnside. 

The first settlers were Andrew Cottar, John Leasou, 
Matthew Streetor, James Shaw, John Bronson, and tue 
widow of David Wright, with her family. Three broth- 
ers named Spates made claims the same year, 1853. 
The following year Joseph Eggleston, Willard Wood, 
Kingsley AVood, Marshall Cutler, and a few others 
settled here. The wife of John Bronson died in the 



254 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

spring of 1855, In July, the same year, Flora Cutler 
was born, and also John H. Spates. The first marriage 
ceremony performed was that of J. F. Enz to Mary F. 
Wright, in October, 1855. 

The first camp meeting held within the limits of this 
county was held on land now known as the poor farm, 
in this town, in September, 1855. 

The first school io the town was taught by Mr. J. 
E. Eggleston during the winter of 1856-7. 

The first sermon was preached by the Rev. Rezin 
Spates, at the house of John Leason, in 1854. At the 
first election in 1858 there were only fifteen votes cast. 

A flouring mill was built in the south part of the 
town, on Spring creek, by Sterns & Hobart, in the year 
1856. This mill was carried away by a freshet, in June, 
the following year. It was rebuilt soon after by the 
Hon. W. W. Phelps, with three run of stone and a ca- 
pacity for grinding 65,000 bushels annually. Mr. Phelps 
operated this mill with success for a time and afterward 
sold it to Wm. Featherstoue. Mr. Featherstone sold to 
M. Herschler. 

The county poor farm is located in this township, 
about three miles from the city of Red Wing, on the 
road to Hastings. It contains 183 acres of land. The 
buildings were erected in 1867 at a cost of about $6,000. 
The furnace for heating purposes and furniture together 
cost not far from .$4,000. A large number of indigent 
persons, nnstly aged people and children, from all parts 
of the county, are cared for here by a Superintendent 
appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. The 
main buiUling was accitleutly burned in the fall of 1889. 

The early history of this town was marked by an 
event which shows how uncertain are the hopes of liu- 



mSTOKY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 255 

man life in this world. The widow of Rev. David 
Wright, with six children, had removed from Illinois 
and settled on the place which had been selected by the 
husband and father the year before, on Spring creek, 
near the claim of John L3ason. They occupied a log 
house which was divided into suitable rooms for sleep- 
ing and family use ; the four boys sleeping in the two 
rooms of the upper floor, while the two girls and the 
mother occupied the lower floor. They came in April, 
and had been there about two mouths when, on the night 
of the eleventh of June, 1855, a storm of lightning and 
rain came on with such terrific peals of thunder as to 
waken the family. One of the older boys was so much 
frightened that he left the bed and came down stairs. 
While he was being told that there was no more danger 
in one place than another, by his sister Susan, a sudden 
crash came which stunned every one in the house. Mrs. 
Wright, the mother, was the first to become conscious. 
She saw that the house was in flames, at least the bed 
surrounding where her two girls lay, both unconscious. 
Presently the water came down through the floor above in 
such profusion as to quench the fire. The roof had 
been torn off and such a heavy fall of rain followed that 
lightning's stroke that the house was saved from entire 
destruction by fire. Soon one of the boys came down 
stairs drenched with rain, bringing in his arms the 
youngest boy, Wilsou, dead. The same stroke of 
lightning had killed one of the girls, who were in 
the bed on the lower floor, immediately under that of 
the boys in the chamber. The boys in time had become 
conscious, and these three, William, Beverly, and James, 
with their mother, laid the boy Wilson by the side of 
his two sisters, Mary and Susan, and began chafing 



256 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

them in order to restore them if possible to conscious- 
ness. After some time Mary, now Mrs. Enz, of Red 
Wing, became conscious and was restored finally to 
health. Susan, a young lady of twenty-one years, and 
Wilson, aged six years, had been instantly summoned 
to the world above during that terrible storm. The 
whole community were plunged into the deepest gloom 
when informed of the sad event. The funeral services 
for the two children were attended by many people 
from Red Wing and the adjoining settlements. 

Burnside lies directly west and joins the city of Red 
Wing. The people attend church in the city. There 
are no church edifices in the town. 

CANNON FALLS. 

The Big Cannon river gives this township its name. 
It is numbered 112 north, range 17 west. The Cannon 
river runs through the northern p rt from west to east, 
consequently the surface of that portion is somewhat 
broken. The river bottom, from one-half to a mile in 
width, has a gravelly soil. The western portion is some- 
what sandy. The south and eastern part was originally 
covered with thickets of wood, chiefiy burr oak and pop- 
lar. The soil is excellent. 

The first settler was Ed way Stoughtou. Chas. Parks 
soon followed, settling on land in what is now the village 
of Cannon Falls, July, 1851. The first birth was Ellen 
Harty, in October, 1855. The first death was David 
McKune, August, 1855. Robert Fotherby and Miss 
Sarah Strange were the first couple married in this 
town, Chas. Parks, justice of the peace, officiating. 

The village was incorporated M irch 10, 1857. The 
first election was held in May following. Officers then 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 257 

cliosen were: Chas. Parks, president ; Wm. P. Tanner, 
recorder ; J. E. Chapman, Thos. Baker and George 
McKenzie, councilmeu. 

James McGinnis, Warren Hunt, Richard Freeborn, 
Wm. ColviU, Jr., Benj. St. Clair, Wm. P. Scofield, 
Frank Clark and Wm. B. Benton, were the early pre- 
emptors of claims in the vicinity of the falls. The falls 
which attracted the first settlers were those of the Little 
Cannon, a branch of the main river, near the junction 
of the two streams. The village proper was laid out in 
August, 1855, by Richard and William Freeborn, on sec- 
tion 18, including a portion of the claims of McGinnis, 
Freeborn and Colvill. It was surveyed and platted by 
S. A. Hart, county surveyor. 

Iq October, 1856, the "Cannon Falls City addition" 
was platted. The " Cannon Falls ( -entral addition" was 
laid out in December, the same year. Several other ad- 
ditions have since been made to the village, the whole 
extending about one mile and a half from north to south, 
and from east to west. Charles Parks built a log hotel, 
16x24, in the fall of 1854, which was named the Falls 
House ; sold the same in April, 1855, to Andrew Du- 
rand, who built an addition of the same dimensions, and 
kept the house for three years. 

E. L. Clark taught the first school in 1856-7 in a log 
building which he erected for the purpose, principally 
of basswood logs ; and it was therefore named Basswood 
college. The same was used for a house of worship on 
the Sabbath for some time thereafter. 

Wm. Freeborn built the first dwelling house, in the 
spring of 1855. It was a log cabin, which stood on the 
east bank of the Little Cannon, near the falls. Richard 
Elton built the first store the same year, and Eli Ells- 

18 



25S HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

worth, the first merchant, kept his goods in that build- 
ing. The first physician was J. E. Tibbitts ; R. W. 
Hamilton, the first lawyer ; and J. R. Barnes, the first 
resident minister of the gospel. 

Cannon Falls offers great advantages to manufac- 
turers. Water power is furnished in great abundance 
in and near this village. The great falls are on the main 
river a little west of the village, having in the distance 
of a few rods a perpendicular descent of about twenty 
feet. The falls on the Little Cannon, where the stone 
mill stands, is twenty-five feet. Another fall, just below 
the junction, of fifteen feet, is where the first flouring 
mill was built by R. C. Knox & Co., in 1857. This was 
a frame structure, 45x50, and contained four run of 
stone. The entire building, wlien completed, cost 
$14,000 with a capacity of 100,000 bushels of wheat per 
annum. It was carried away by a flood in June, 1867. 
It was rebuilt by Mrs. Cornelia Grosvenor the same 
year, 50x60, four stories high, containing eight run of 
stone. 

There is a creamery in successful operation here ; 
also a mill for the manufacture of syrup from the amber 
cane. 

The Little Cannon mill is a stone building 50x70, 
two stories above basement ; built in 1857 but not used 
until 1861, when machinery for the manufacture of 
woolen goods was put into it, and operated as such 
until 1875, when it was converted into a grist mill with 
four run of stone for wheat and two for feed. 

Tanner & Seager, nursery men, keep and raise an 
extensive assortment of fruit and ornamental trees, 
shrubbery and plants. 

Goodhue mill, situated on the north side of the Big 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 259 

Cannon, is a frame structure, built in 1870 ; is 45x60, 
three stories high ; has eight run of stone. The Mid- 
dlings purifier is used at this mill. It was built by Gard- 
ner S: More, and operated by them until September 
1, 1878, when it was sold to Stephen Gardner, of Hast- 
ings. (Capacity of mill, 250 barrels per day. 

The First National Bank of Cannon Falls was es- 
tablished in June, 1878, with an authorized capital of 
.t200,000. It is now called the " Citizen's Bank," a very 
successful and well managed institution. 

The first Congregational church was organized July 
31, 1856, Rev. J. li. Barnes pastor, with sixteen mem- 
bers. J. L. Clifford and Sherman Hale were the first 
deacons. S. L. Chapman, W. H. Scnfield and Sherman 
Hale were the first board of trustees. Under the ad- 
ministration of this board the present church edifice 
was completed in 1868 ; size, 35x48 ; cost, ^3,000. 

The Episcopal church was the outgrowth of the 
labors of Rev. T. Wilcoxson, who walked from Hastings, 
a distance of nineteen miles, to preach his first sermon, 
at the dwelling house of W. P. Tanner, November 3, 
1857. Mr. Wilcoxson continued holding monthly serv- 
ices until September, 18<)5, when Rev. S. S. Burlson, of 
Northfield, took charge. The parish was duly organized 
April 16, 1866, with J. E. Chapman, and J. D. Wheat, 
wardens ; Wm. P. Tanner, Eli Ellsworth, James H. 
Abbott and A. J. Phelps, were elected vestrymen. The 
corner stone of the church edifice was laid June 28, 
1866, by Bishop Whipple, and the building completed 
in March, 1867 ; cost, as reported, $3,577. 

The Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 
1856. A neat house for worship was soon after erected. 
They have a large and flourishing congregation. 



260 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

The Roman Catholic church was organized in 1864, 
with five members. Father McMahon was the first 
preacher. Tiie church edifice is built of stone and was 
completed in 1866. 

The Swedsih Evangelical Lutheran church was or- 
ganized in May, 1857, with six members. This congre- 
gation built a church in 1862, which they occupied till 
the summer of 1878, when their present house of wor- 
ship was completed at a cost of 14,000. The first trus- 
tees were : Andrew Swanson, Nels Hawkinson and Jonas 
Engberg. 

The St. Ansgar's Evangelical Lutheran church was 
organized August 15, 1869, with sixteen members. First 
trustees were : Ct. Westman, A. P. Johnson and John 
Watson. At a meeting held in February, 1872, it was 
resolved to build a frame church, 30x50, which was be- 
gun early in the spring and completed that year. Its 
cost, together with furniture and an addition, built in 
1874, was $3,000. 

The village of Cannon Falls has a steady growth 
in trade and population. The streets are often seen 
crowded with farmers' teams and other vehicles, from 
the surrounding country. 

The hotels, stores and mechanics' shops, are equal 
to any in larger cities, and are Avell patronized. Much 
interest is taken by the people in having good public 
schools. There are two large school buildings ; seven 
teachers employed. The principal of their high school 
is required to be a thoroughly educated man. 

A weekly newspaper was started here in 1856, called 
the Oazette, R. W. Hamilton editor, M'hich was contin- 
ued only for about two years. It was changed afterward 
to the Bulletin and again to the Echo. In 1876, John A. 



HISTORY OP GOODHUE COUNTY. 261 

Leonard started the Cannon Falls Beacon, whose weekly- 
issues have continued to enlighten the village and sur- 
rounding country up to the present time. S. S. Lewis 
has been the editor for the last twelve or more years. 
Two lines of railroad pass directly through the town 
giving easy access to all parts of the country. 

Cannon Falls has a promising future. She has 
natural resources yet undeveloped, and her water power 
is second to none in the State, except perhaps, Minne- 
apolis. 

CENTRAL POINT. 

This is a small fractional township in the eastern 
part of the county, lying along the shore of Lake Pepin. 
It contains only about two sections of land ; bounded 
. north and east by the lake ; south by Lake City, Waba- 
sha county ; and west by Florence. The surface is 
broken. An isolated blulf rises in the eastern part, 
which, on account of its peculiar shape, is called the 
Sugar Loaf. The first claim was made here in 1853, by 
a Mr. Gridley. R. L. Phillips, H. L. Barrett and Han- 
nibal Bonnell, came the same year. A point of land, 
extending some distance into the lake, about midway 
between the head and foot of the same, gives the town its 
name. More settlers came in 1854, and the village was 
surveyed and platted in 1855. Speculation in town lots 
became lively. Mr. Silas Cross built a store and 
stocked the same with merchandise. Mr. Feary built a 
hotel, which was opened for travelers by E. S. Harri- 
son. A post-office was established and Perry D. Martin 
appointed post-master. Charles Moe built a steam saw 
mill and began the manufacture of lumber. But it was 
soon ascertained that a much better landing for steam- 



262 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

boats could be secured a little further down the lake ; 
and the town of Lake City began to be built up. The 
result was business was drawn away from Central Point. 
Another saw mill was built by Lewis & Scott, which 
was bought and run for a time by Frank Sterritt, and 
afterwards bought and run by S. S. and G. H. Grannis. 
The manufacture of sorghum syrup is now carried on 
here. 

A very fine and commodious school building was 
erected by the citizens of Central Point, in 1873, showing 
much interest in the cause of education. We have been 
informed on good authority that all the early records of 
this town were destroyed by mice. There are some 
good reasons for supposing that the early records of 
some other towns in this county have shared a similar 
fate. The present town officers are : Charles Dempster, 
G. H. Grannis and Rhodes Merrill, supervisors ; Charles 
Gould, clerk ; and Edwin Wilson, treasurer. 

An enterprise has been lately set on foot, which 
promises much for humanity, and will eventually make 
this little town known abroad. Several substantial 
buildings have been erected within the year past, and 
the success of the enterprise is beyond doubt. We 
quote from a Eed Wing paper, a full history of the 
origin and object of the institution, as it was when first 
inaugurated in 1891: 

KEST ISLAND — THE SCENE OF JOHN. Ci. WOOLEY"s HOME FOR 
DRUNKARDS. 

Down on Lake Pepin, that queen of western inland lakes, 
about sixteen miles from here, on one of the peninsulas jutting 
out into the broad expanse of the waters' glossy surface, almost 
directly opposite to where the far-famed Maiden Rock, immortal 
ized in song and poem, lifts its summit to the skies, there are 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 263 

being laid just now the foundations of a philanthropic institution 
which, if the scheme is successful, will in time arouse the atten- 
tion of people all over the world and make for this now unknown 
place a fame as lasting as the rocks, as enduring as the sun. It 
is Rest I^5land, the scene of John G. Wooley's efforts to establish 
a home for contirmed inebriates and drunkards, where they may 
be treated so as to be again restored to the usefulness in life of 
which tht-y have been deprived by giving under to the mastery 
of drink. 

Ten years ago Mr. Wooley was a leading attorney at Minne- 
apolis. Brilliant, scholarly, eloqvient and ingenious, he rapidly 
made his way to the front rank of the bar of that city and in due 
time was elected county attorney. His rise to eminence con- 
tinued and the future of no man ever looked more roseate than 
did his. But during all the time he had struggled to reach the 
top he had not retained the high moral position on which he first 
stood. Drink became his master and when he had reached emi- 
nence, down he fell, far more rapidly than he had ever risen, till 
he became a complete wreck, physically and mentally. He left 
Minneapolis and was lost sight of and nearly all, supposing that 
he would go the usual way of the habitvial drunkard, soon forgot 
him. 

But Mr. Wooley was an exception to the general rule. In- 
stead of giving up completely when he realized the wreck he had 
wrought to himself and to his family and to his friends, he set 
about atoning for his work. The struggle was a hard and bitter 
one, but through assistance, he finally overcame his master antl 
immediately set about to do what he could to save others who 
might have fallen into a state similar to that in which he had 
been. Out of this grew Rest Island, and here let Mr. Wooley 
tell the story of that place in his own words : "The story of Rest 
Island is a romance of faith. When I left Minneapolis in the 
summer of 1887, 1 was a lost man. Nobody doubted that. When 
I return 3d in the winter of 1888 and said I was saved, everybody 
doubted that, but it was true. From the first I felt called to be 
an apostle to the drunken, and at once took up the work, for the 
leading seemed imperative. 

" Since that time wonderful offers have come to me. On the 
one hand to return to my profession, and on the other to enter 



264 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

the ministry, but I felt peremptorily led to stick to my narrow 
and discouraging ministry to the most hopeless class of men. In 
all my work I have realized increasingly the comparative im- 
possibility of saving drunken men without altering their condi- 
tion. 

"The man who leaves oflf drink at night and returns to his 
regular stint of labor or his irregular search for labor the next 
day, has scarcely a chance to be steadfast. His body is a chaos 
of dazed and twitching nerves, and aching bones and over- 
wrought glands and crazy muscles; his mind is invariable, his 
moral nature gummy and untrustworthy; but temptation is as 
constant a pressure as the atmosphere, fifteen devils or so to the 
square inch of exposed character. Such a man needs, hrst of all, 
rest, then cleansing, inward and outward — then a friend who un- 
derstands him. 

" If he goes to an inebriate asylum the help is professional, 
perfunctory and nearly worthless, the moral tone either negative 
or bad — generally the latter, the rest irksome, reduced in some 
measure by games of chance, which, however innocent, supply 
neither food nor Vjallast to the jaded and unnoui'ished mind. 

" What he needs now is a Christian home scaled to a high 
jdeal — strict in tone, but flexible in rules; with reasonable liberty 
'on honor," and absolute outlawry of the terms 'inmate,' 
' patient," ' ward,' ' keeper," ' institution," etc. 

" When I was working at Lake City two years ago, J. M. 
Underwood took me for a drive to Frontenac, by the way of ' the 
Island.' Standing on that exquisite bluff opposite Maiden Rock, 
my whole soul asked God to give me that island for my fallen. 
I said this is enough for to-day — we'll not go to Frontenac. For 
two years I have waited and prayed. I could do nothing else, 
not knowing to what extent doubts of my steadfastness might 
have yielded. Nevertheless I kept on believing I was to have it. 
Then came— a year ago--an offered help ; a friend bought the 
land and said he would carry it a while. I tried to get more help 
and failed, but kept on believing. 

" When I went to Minneapolis this spring the plan seemed 
about to fail. One morning I said to myself : Today I"ll have 
a token of the Lord's will about that island ; I'll ask some men 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 265 

for money. If it comes easy, I'll keep on. If it comes hard, I'll 
give it up forever. You know the rest. 

" One day's work sent my assurance to the top of the ther- 
mometer, and Rest Island is God's Island forever.'' 

Rest Island contains 140 acres of forest land bordering on 
Lake Pepin, and located about two miles above Lake City. 

It includes what has long been known as " Bass point," off 
which there is excellent fishing, and is indented by two small 
bays, with a nice stretch of pebbly shores. 

The land is about thirty feet above the water, with an 
abrupt declination to the shore. Gilbert Valley creek empties 
into the lake just below, and beyond that stretches Central Point 
with its lovely beach. Beside Rest Island proper, upwards of 
150 acres of land, including Central Point, belong to the Wooley 
domain. A fine view can be had of the lake and the bluffs on 
the Wisconsin side from the Assembly grounds. Directly oppo- 
site, and in pretty plain sight, considering it is a mile and a half, 
is the pretty village of Stockholm, with its background of bluffs. 

Fine drives have been laid out upon the island. The ground 
is shaded by large trees, and a pure bracing air is always in cir- 
culation there. A visitor derives strength from the natural 
influences of the place. The design is to equip a complete farm 
for the production of a great variety of small fruits, etc., the 
intention being to raise aill food supplies on the island. Cows 
and other live stock are to be kept. The work is to be done by 
those who came for help and a home. The cottages are to be 
modeled after those of the Soldier's home at Quincy, 111., with a 
capacity for from twenty to forty men each. 

The formal opening of this institution was held in July. 
It was a popular assembly lasting a week, and prominent speakers 
were present from all ijarts of the country. The attendance at 
these meetings was very good, and every speaker expressed the 
greatest confidence in Mr. Wooley's great work and its ultimate 
success. 

Thus has this grand work been inaugurated. How it will 
succeed remains yet to be demonstrated, but if perseverance, 
energy and unlimited faith will accomplish anything. Mr. Wooley 
will succeed. He will devote his whole time to the work, and 
use all his energy to further its ends. 



266 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

"By the grace of (tocI," he says, " in the hands of o-ood men 
and women, I am to have a home. 

" It is to be devoted first and last to hel^jing men, who, fallen 
by drink or hunted by appetite, desire, and seem to deserve 
' another chance.' 

" Buildings are to be prepared speedily and there will l)e a 
light in the window and an open door for any such man who will 
undertake faithfully to try for a clean life in the name of Jesus 
Christ. 

"Rest Island is not to be a 'resort' nor an 'institution," but 
a sanctuary. There are no 'lots for sale" nor any private ends to 
gain nor any interest to promote save only His who offers rest to 
every weary, heavy-laden man with faith enough to come apart 
with Him and rest awhile. Any drinking man who seems 
sincerely to desire to be a clean man will be received. There are 
many such, and I have no mission to the incorrigible. Those 
who can't pay will work on the farm. As fast as they are able 
to return to business, we help them to positions. But no man 
will be received who is unwilling to go for cleansing, or who 
refuses to be shown the way to a life of faith in Jesus Christ." 

CHERRY GROVE. 

This is one of the southern tier of townships in Good- 
hue county. A branch of the Zumbro river meanders 
through the south part of the town ; and along the val- 
ley of this stream there are large areas covered with 
timber. The greater portion, however, is gently rolling 
prairie. The soil is excellent for agricultural purposes, 
being well watered ; is well calculated for stock raising 
and dairy farming. 

The first settlers were Madison Brown, Heading 
and Benjamin Woodward, in 1854. The next year, 
Silas Merriam, Samuel and William Shields, Joseph 
Seymore, Wilson Kelsey, Thomas Haggard, John and 
Charles Lent, came and made their claims. In the 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 267 

spring following, Israel T., E. G., and Taft Comstock, 
with many others, settled here. 

The first school taught was in the winter of 1H57, by 
E. G. Comstock in a log house. 

The first church organization, in 1856, was that of 
the Christian Disciples, who held their services in the 
house of James Haggard, David Haggard preaching 
the first sermon. A village was platted in the south 
part of the town in 1857 and named Fairpoint, where a 
post-office was established the next year. Silas Merriam 
was the first post-master. 

The first marriage in the township was between 
Elizabeth, daughter of T. B. Haggard, and John Hart. 
The first town meeting was held May 11, 1858. The 
following officers were elected : Benjamin Woodward, 
Cyrus H. Bart and David Simpson, supervisors ; E. G. 
Comstock, town clerk ; Francis A. Crebb, assessor ; 
James Haggard and Peter Stagle, constables ; John 
Haggard and F. A. Crebb, justices ; Israel T. Comstock 
and R. Woodward, road overseers. A fine grove o^ 
timber near the center of the township gave it the name 
it bears. On the south side of this grove the first school 
house was built, and the first school taught. A neat 
stone school building now occupies the same spot. 
There are three small villages in Cherry Grove ; one at 
the grove just mentioned, containing one store, a black- 
smith shop, hotel and a few private dwellings. 

Spring Creek post-office is situated in the north part, 
containing a blacksmith shop and several dwellings. 

Fairpoint is on the southern border, has a fine church, 
a hotel, two blacksmith shops, several stores and private 
houses. Fairpoint has a post-office. There are four 
large and commodious churches in this town, one Cath- 



268 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

olic and one German Lutheran, and two Scandinavian 
Lutheran. 

FEATHERSTONE. 

This township, 112 north, of range 17 west, was 
named for Mr. Wm. Featherstone, who came with his 
family and settled here in 1856. Philip Storkel, Messrs. 
Coleman, Spencer, Goldsmith and Locke had made 
claims and settled the year previous. 

The surface along the eastern border of this town is 
broken by the valley of Hay creek ; also the north- 
western along the margin of Spring creek is intersected 
by ravines to some extent. The south and central portions 
are rolling prairie. The soil is of excellent quality and 
well repays the husbandman for his labor. Mr. William 
Featherstone, now a resident of Red Wing, says that he 
bought a claim in 1856, a number of acres of which had 
been broken the year before, and sowed ten bushels 
of fife wheat, which he brought from Canada ; the first 
seed wheat of the kind in the State of Minnesota. His 
first crop yielded only about eighteen bushels per acre. 
He sold what wheat he could spare for seed ; broke up 170 
acres more of land and sowed the next year, receiving a 
yield of about twenty-four bushels per acre. The larger 
portion of this crop was also sold for seed. And this 
was the origin of the kind now commonly called hard 
wlieat. 

Mary Cox taught the first school in a claim shanty 
on land, since the property of Henry Featherstone. 

The first death was that of Mr. JMcMahon, who died 
from exposure on' returning from Red Wing on a cold 
night in January, 1857. 

The first marriage was that of J. A. Jones and Mary 



tItSTORY OF GOODHUE COtJNTY. -269 

Libbey, a daughter of Wm. Libbey, Esq. A school 
meeting was called in October, 1857, to organize the 
first school district. F. N. Leavitt was elected chair- 
man ; George Featherstone, clerk ; William Freyberger, 
William Libbey and William Watson, were chosen 
trustees. There were then but seventeen children of 
school age, though the district comprised nearly the 
whole town. A school house was built the following 
winter. There are now six good school houses in Feath- 
erstone. The people have ever been forward to give 
their children a good education, consequently a large 
number of school teachers and professional men now 
engaged in other parts of the country were once schol- 
ars in tlie common schools of Featherstone. There is 
but one church edifice, the M. E. church erected in 1862. 
There is a neat and commodious town hall, centrally 
located, to accommodate political gatherings and for the 
transaction of town business. On Trout brook, in the 
northeastern part of the town, is an extensive tannery, 
and a sugar mill, both owned and managed by J. F. 
Porter, Esq., which have been already referred to under 
the head of manufactories. The number of employes is 
such that a pretty village has sprung up. A neat chapel 
has been built there for Sunday schools and public 
worship, known as Trout Brook chapel. 

Featherstone is one of the best farming towns in the 
county. The soil is chiefly high prairie and of the 
richest variety. 

The earliest claim hunters generally passed by this 
broad prairie because it produced nothing but grass, 
and made choice of lands at much greater distance 
from the river in order to find trees and running water. 
At the present day we behold the finest residences 



270 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

and the largest barns surrounded by groves of young 
timber, on nearly every quarter section of the 
township. 

No stranger can cross Featherstone prairie in the 
summer season without being impressed, botli with the 
beauty of the landscape, and the indications of thrift 
and prosperity seen on every hand. 

There is not a tavaru, store, post-office, nor dram 
shop, in the town. As it joins the city of Red Wing 
for a mile on its northern border there is no necessity 
for such things. 

Ezekial Burleigh built a large house here in 185(), 
and opened a hotel for the accommodation of travelers, 
but discontinued the business in a few years and de- 
voted himself wholly to farming. A store was kept 
open several years at Trout Brook but was abandoned. 

FLORENCE. 

This township is joined to the waters of Lake Pepin 
on the northeast for the distance of about seven miles, 
extending from Wacoata to Central Point. It is 
bounded south by Wabasha county, and on the west by 
Hay Creek township. The surface is uneven, but the 
soil very fertile. It is well watered by Wells creek and 
its many tributaries ; running, as it does, from west to 
east through the centre of the town, giving it decided 
advantages for raising stock and dairying. 

It has a history older than any other in the county. 
An account of its early occupation by French traders 
and missionaries has been given in the first part of this 
book. It is related that Count Frontenac visited the 
place about the middle of the seventeenth century. 
His name has therefore been given to the village on the 



HISTORY OP GOODHUE COUNTY. 27l 

lake and the railroad statiou. Miss Florence Graliam, 
a daughter of Hon. C. Graham, gave the township its 
name. 

At Frontenac station is a post-office, hotel, several 
shops and stores. A large creamery and cheese factory 
is carried on by a stock company; and there is a stone 
saw-mill, which is doing good business in furnishing 
building material of any required shape, tombstones, 
monuments, etc., from quarries in the vicinity, where 
there is an abundance of fine solid stone of a light 
brown color. The town hall is located in this village, 
and also the German Lutheran church. 

At Lakeside is another village called Frontenac, a 
well chosen summer resort for sportsmen, and others 
who take a vacation during the hot season. Gen. Israel 
Garrard, of Cincinnati, Ohio, came to this place on a 
hunting tour in 1854, in company with his brother. Dr. 
L. H. Garrard. Attracted by the scenery along the 
lake shore, they afterward made large investments in 
land in this vicinity. 

Dr. Garrard came and settled here in 1858. The 
general came after the close of the war, in 18^5, and 
together they made arrangements for a summer resort 
on the shore of Lake Pepin, giving it the name of Fron- 
tenac. It is near the old Indian trading post of James 
Wells. Sparing neither money nor labor they have 
succeeded in making it one of the finest places in the 
Northwest for summer tourists. Two parks, extending 
through the village, one on the lake front, and the other 
on the second terrace, secure lovely views of the lake 
and surrounding scenery. 

The Lakeside hotel occupies a point projecting into 
the lake, consisting of several acres of ground. Here, 



272 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

in picturesque arrangement, are cottages for those who 
desire to live separate from the hotels. Here are croquet 
and tennis lawns, a light house, boat houses, bathing 
houses and stabling. Frontenac is in the center of a 
fine region of country for pleasure seekers to enjoy 
boating, fishing and hunting ; and as such has already 
gained a national reputation. There are charming drives 
to the fine points of view on the surrounding bluffs, 
over good roads. The drive along the lake shore, six 
miles, to Lake City, affords many a delightful pros- 
pect. 

Maiden's Rock, which has long been famous in story 
and song, is in full view^ on the opposite shore, and 
easily reached by row or sail. It is no wonder that 
every summer we hear that Frontenac is thronged with 
visitors from all parts. 

There are three church edifices in this town. There 
is an Episcopal church at Frontenac village and a Ger- 
man Lutheran church at the railroad station. A church 
was built in the southwestern part of the town in 1S71, 
by Presbyterians, at a cost of about $2,000, which has 
since passed into the hands of the Lutherans and is now 
used by that denomination for public worship. 

Among the early settlers of Florence w^ere Dr. John 
Kelly, J. 0. Gary, Everet Westervelt, E. Wrigley, E. Z. 
K. Munger and L. H. Garrard. 

The township was organized in 1858 with Dr. John 
Kelly, chairman of the board of supervisors and J. C. 
Carey, clerk. The next board consisted of Dr. L. H. 
Garrard, E. Z. K. Munger, L. Utley, Peter Grant. The 
riouring mills have been for a time doing business on 
Wells' creek, within this town, but at the present time 
are not in active operation. 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 273 

GOODHUE. 

TIlis town takes its name from the county. It is 
bounded nortli by Featherstone, east by Belvidere, south 
by Zumbrota, and west by Belle Creek. The surface is 
rolling prairie, excepting a small grove of burr oak in 
the northwest coruer. The soil is generally of excellent 
quality. 

The iirst settlers came in 1854, Francis Yergens and 
John Mann. The year following, David Hickock, John 
Ingerbretson, Henry Danielson, Oliver Knutson and 
Kuute Knutson, selected claims here. Travel through 
this township to regions beyond being quite brisk in the 
early days, several of the first settlers kept hotels. 
Mann and Hickock opened their houses for the enter- 
tainment of travelers for several years. Peter Easterly 
came in 185(5 and built a hotel which he kept open as 
such, for about fifteen years. The only hotel now in 
tlie town is at the railroad station, on the Dulutli, Red 
Wing it Southern railroad. An extensive bed of su- 
perior clay is found a little below the soil in a large 
portion of this town. From this clay the raw material 
is furnished for the stoneware factories in Eed Wing. 

The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in farming. 
The celebrated stock farm of Francis Davis S: Son, con- 
sisting of several hundred acres, is situated in the west- 
ern part. The condition of farms in this town generally 
indicates that farming pays. 

The first child born in Goodhue was Henry Yergens 
in 1855. The first death among the white settlers, was 
that of Mrs. David Hickock who died in 1856. The first 
school was taught in the summer of 1857, by Miss Geor- 
giette Easterly. 

19 



274 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

Religious services were held here in school houses 
and private dwellings till about the year 1866 when the 
Lutherans built the first church. 

There are now five neat church buildings in the 
town, to-wit : German Lutheran and Methodist, Swedish 
Lutheran and Methodist and Presbyterian. 

Near the center is a town hall. Not far from this is 
the principal railroad station where, within a few years, 
a busy village has sprung up, containing stores for re- 
tailing all kinds of merchandise, a post-office, hotel, 
several warehouses, two elevators, a number of neat 
private houses, mechanic shops, etc. A large amount 
of grain, beef, pork and livestock is annually shipped 
from this station. 

From the records kept in the town clerk's office, we 
extract the following : 

At a meeting held Jaly 5, 1858, in the town of York, 
composed of township No. Ill, north of range 14 and 
15, at the house of Peter Easterly, the following officers 
were elected : Supervisors, Cyrus Crouch, chairman, 
G. W. Post, Henry Danielson ; town clerk, Oliver Knut- 
son ; assessor, B. F. Chase ; justices, Peter Easterly, J. 
W. Finch ; constables, James Lane, H. B. Patterson ; 
overseer of poor. Nelson Gaylord ; collector, J. S. 
Thompson. 

On the twenty-first day of January, 1859, the follow- 
ing named were appointed to fill vacancies : Supervi- 
sors, Sylvester Cranson, chairman, Chas. M. Lee, Ezra 
Bennett ; town clerk, John Stowe ; justices, Hans. H. 
Olson, F. Cranson. 

The name for this town was undecided for a number 
of years after its settlement as appears from the follow- 
ing record : At the annual town meeting of York, 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 275 

Elmira and Belvidere, held April 5, 1851), at the house 
of P. Easterly, the following were elected town officers : 
P. Easterly, chairman of supervisors ; Ezra Bennett, 
Sylvester Cranson, supervisors ; John Stowe, town 
clerk ; F. Cranson, collector ; Sylvester Cranson, 
assessor ; H. B. Patterson, overseer of poor. At 
the same meeting it was voted to call the town 
Goodhue. 

September 13, 1851), a petition to divide the town 
having been granted, making town 111, range 15, a sep- 
arate municipality to be called either Lime or Goodhue, 
the following officers were appointed by J. Going, 
county clerk ; Supervisors, Chas. H. Mclntire, chair- 
man, L. C. Burke, H. B. Patterson ; town clerk, John 
Stowe ; justices, Samuel Parker, Sylvester Cranson ; 
constables, H. Olson, S. W. Carney ; assessor, George 
Spicer ; collector, F. Cranson ; overseer of roads, John 
Gleasou ; overseer of poor, H. Danielson. The town 
from that time has been called Goodhue. Since the 
year 18(50 and up to the year 181K), the following named 
have served as chairman of town supervisors and town 
clerks : Chairman, Charles H. Mclntire, T. M, Lowater, 
Samuel Parker, A. A, Anderson, David Purdy, F. 
Tether, J. Finney, W. H. H. Bruce, R. Kolbe ; clerks, L. 
C. Burke, S. S. Gibson, Isaac Gallagher, Lewis Johnson, 
John McHugh. 

HAY CREEK. 

This township is bounded north by Red Wing and 
Wacouta, east by Florence, south by Belvidere, and 
west by Featherstone. 

The surface is broken by numerous springs and 
water courses. Wells creek sweeps through the south- 



276 HISTORy OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

eastern'portion, and Hay creek winds along the western 
border. The hillsides are covered with growing timber 
and the level portions are under prosperous cultivation. 

The first settlement was made in the spring of 1854, 
by a Mr. Egar, in the northeast part of the town. George 
Steel, Ernest Schubert aad Henry Izancee made claims 
that same year. Wm. Hayman, Garry Post, David Bar- 
trom, Simon PetersDu, Benville Mosier, Rudolph Krager, 
Chas. Darling, Jacob Turner, M. Eggleston, G. F. and 
Wm. Meyer all began improvements the next year. Early 
in the year 1856, Mr. Charles Ahlers built a house near 
the place where Burkard's hotel now stands. Mr. 
Ahlers was one of the mauy in those days who suffered 
the annoyance of a former claimant. He had his first 
log cabin nearly completed, when another man appeared 
to dispute his right to the laud, whose claim was based 
upon the fact that he had been there and inscribed his 
name on a tree previous to Mr. Aiders' advent. The 
former claimant Avas backed by a mob of men armed 
with clubs, axes and other weapons. So there was 
no alternative for Mr. Ahlers but to leave his improve- 
ments or pay the required amount of cash. He paid 
the money, remained and opened his house for the ac- 
commodation of travelers. 

The early settlers of this town were all subjected to 
trouble for a number of years on account of being within 
the limits of the " Half breed tract." 

At the first town meeting only six voters were pres- 
ent, to-wit : Wm. Hayman, Henry Lorentzen, S. A. AVise, 
J. B. AVakefield, Rudolph Kruger, and David Bartrom. 
This meeting was held in a school house at Hay creek 
bend, which was then tlie only school house in town. 
The slim attendance at this meeting was accounted for 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 277 

by the fact that a religious canip-meetiDg was in prog- 
ress, in a grove near by on that same day. It would 
seem that a majority of the settlers in that year, 1858, 
were more interested in religion than politics. 

Church services were held at an early day by both 
Lutherans and Methodists. Each of these denomina- 
tions have built very tine church editices. 

A neat and commodious town hall stands near the 
center, where town business is now transacted and polit- 
ical meetings held. 

There are two mills for the manufacture of flour, 
and grinding all kinds of grain. The tirst was built on 
Wells creek by E. H. Matthews ; the second, on Hay 
creek, by John Hack and G. F. Meyer. A third mill 
was built on the last named creek and run for several 
years but is now abandoned. 

There is one village in this town, called the Bend, 
containing one church, a hotel, school house, several 
mechanic shops and one store, besides several private 
residences. 

HOLDEN. 

This township is on the western border of the county; 
bounded north by Warsaw, east by Wanamingo, south 
by Kenyon, and west by Kice county. The Little Can- 
non river rises in the western part. The surface is 
chietiy rolling prairie. There is timber along the 
streams both in the northern and southern portions. 
The soil is excellent in quality. 

Hans Ovaldson is said to have broken the first ground 
in this township in the summer of 1854 ; and soon after 
Ole O. Oakland broke several acres in the adjoining 



278 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

section, and the following year they raised a crop of 
wheat. 

In the fall of 1854, Jens Ottun made a claim and 
built a sod hut on section 23, where he, in the month of 
May, 1855, commencod breaking. But on the '27th of 
the same month, A. K., K. K. and H. K. Finseth with 
Ole J. Bakke, arrived at the cabin of Mr. Ottun. The 
Finseths bought Mr. Ottun's claim, and he returned to 
Wanamingo, where he had previously made a claim. 

The Finseth brothers became the first permanent 
settlers of Holden, as Ovaldson and Oakland merely 
raised a crop of wheat without making any claim. Mr. 
Bakke made a claim on section 33. Mrs. Bakke was 
the first white female settler. Indian females were 
then roving through the county. One day, while Mrs. 
Bakke had left the cabin to fetch a pail of water, a 
squaw entered the house and stole her babe out of the 
bed. Missing her child on her return she ran out of 
the house and heard its cries from the edge of a grove 
near by, where she soon arrived ; whereupon the squaw 
threw the child upon the ground and ran off. 

The same year, in the month of June, Ole O. Huset, 
Halvor E. Yraalstad and T. E. Vraalstad, Eric Ander- 
son, Nels Mikkleson and INlikkel Johnson, all made 
claims in this township. Several log cabins were soon 
erected, which, with the covered wagons they had 
brought, served as places of abode while they were in- 
dustriously preparing the soil for their first crops. Pro- 
visions for their use the first year had to be hauled from 
the river towns, Eed Wing and Hastings, thirty miles 
distant, with ox teams. The first settlers were Norwe- 
gians. A number of German families came a few years 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 279 

after and settled in the western part of the town, many 
of whom, with their descendants, still reside there. 

The first child born among the settlers was to Mr. 
and Mrs. T. E. Vraalstad in September, 1855. The first 
couple married was K. K. Finseth and Bergitte Halvor- 
son. The first death was that of Eric A. Ethun. 

This town was organized for political purposes in 
1858, and at the first election the following oflicers were 
chosen : Supervisors, K. K. Finseth, chairman, H. 
C. Klemer, Charles Nichols ; town clerk, L. A. Aaker ; 
assessor, G. Nichols ; collector, Charles Foglesang ; 
justices of peace, W. C. Crandall and Ole Olson ; con- 
stables, Peter N. Langemo and H. E. Vraalstad. 

In the summer of 1858 the growing crops were look- 
ing fine, but before harvest they were nearly destroyed 
by a hail storm. Since that year the farmers of Holden 
have generally been prosperous. During the war of 
the rebellion, from 1861 to 1865, the sum of $14,000 was 
raised to hire volunteers for the service ; hence no draft- 
ing was needed to fill the quota required for this town- 
ship. 

There is a post-office, store and a few mechanic 
shops near the church in the north central part of the 
town. Holden is a rich agricultural town, having 
no large village. A greater portion of the inhabitants 
are people from Norway and their descendants. 

The Holden church was built and dedicated in 1868. 
It is a commodious and beautiful structure, capable of 
seating 500 people. It is a part of what is called 
" Holden Congregations," under the pastoral supervi- 
sion of Bev. B. J. Muus and his assistants. 



280 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

KENYON. 

This township lies iu the southwest corner of the 
county. The north branch of the Zumbro river runs 
through the northwest part, and along the stream there 
are groves of young trees. The larger portion of the 
town is rich level prairie. The soil is deep and remark- 
ably fertile. 

The first settlers came here iu 1855, among them L. 
A. Felt, Chris and Sever Halvorson, L. N. Bye and N. 
Hoi len beck. 

Kenyon village is situated in the north part of the 
township, near the Zumbro river. In the month of May, 

1856, James H. Day and J. M. LeDuc came and made 
claims where the village is situated. Subsequently a 
Mr. How and Addison Hilton became part owners and 
the four laid out and platted the village. 

Mr. Day built the first dwelling house that summer, 
and the company built a store. The store was stocked 
with general merchandize and occupied by Crowley & 
Baker in the fall. Stephen BuUis built a hotel in March, 

1857, and kept the same for the accommodation of trav- 
elers for many years. 

The same year a steam saw mill was erected by 
the village proprietors. Other stores, shops and dwell- 
ings were soon added and a post-ofhce established. 
The growth was continued but slowly until the railroad 
was built. Since then it has been incorporated as a 
separate municipality, and is now a thriving village of 
about 1,000 inhabitants. There are two hotels, a foundry 
and machine shops, mechanic shops and stores of all 
kinds. A fine brick school building has been erected, 
which accommodates over 200 scholars and is a credit to 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 281 

the place. There is also a tannery and a flouring mill, the 
capacity of the latter being about twenty-five barrels 
per day. A weekly newspaper is published here, the 
Kcnyon Lcdder, and there are two banking institutions 
to attend to money matters. The village is surrounded 
by a rich agricultural region, and the railroad station 
affords a market for all the products of the farm. Three 
church edifices adorn the village A Baptist church 
was organized in 1857 with seven members. Rev. Du- 
bois, of the Protestant Episcopal church, held services 
in 1873, and in 1875 a neat church was completed by 
that congregation. The Norwegian Lutheran church is 
a large stone structure capable of seating 600 persons. 
There is also another stone church in the township, be- 
longing to the Lutherans, of large dimensions. 

Kenyon possesses advantages in geographical posi- 
tion, in educational facilities and religious privileges, 
equal to any country village of its size in the great 
Northwest. 

LEON. 

This township is bounded on the north by Cannon 
Falls, east by Belle Creek, south by Wauamingo, and 
west by Warsaw. The surface of the northwest portion 
is somewhat broken by the Little Cannon river and its 
branches ; the residue is rolling prairie ; soil good. It 
is one of the best farming towns in the county. 

The first settler was Haldro Johnson, who came from 
Dane county. Wis., iu the fall of 1851. He made his 
claim on section 20, built a cabin and speut the winter 
there. The following summer he went back to Wiscon- 
sin, married, and returned with his wife to their new 
home, where they have since resided. During the sum- 



282 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

mer of 1855 the population was increased by the follow- 
ing named settlers and their families : A. J. Malande, 
Andrew Larson, Gutrom Pedersou, Ole Pederson, J, J. 
Wamberg, John Bottolfson, M. Edstrom, C. A. Haggs- 
trom, William Olson and Regnold Johnson. Many of 
these are luw living '.vliere they first located their 
claims. In the spring of 1856 a number of American 
families settled in the central and southeastern parts 
of the township, but few of them remained permanently. 

The first birth was that of Frank Johnson, son of 
John and Johanna Johnson, born in May, 1856, and died 
the same year, his being also the first death. 

During the year 1857, E. A. Sargent built a store on 
the plat which was laid out as the village of Wastedo. 
A store was afterward built by M. T. Opsal. This 
building has been enlarged and continues to be the 
principal trading point in the township. There is a 
blacksmith shop, and public school house, with several 
residences near. A post-ofhce is kept here, called 
Wastedo. 

The town was organized for political purposes in 1858. 
The following were elected as the officers: Supervisors, 
Ellery Stone, chairman, George Leasons and W^m. 
Olson ; town clerk, G. F. Sargent ; assessor, F. F. Dim- 
mick ; justices, D. C. Stranahan and S. N. McGaughey. 
This town is now inhabited by an industrious class of 
citizens, mostly natives of Norway and Sweden with 
their descendants, who take a deep interest in the polit- 
ical and social welfare of their adopted country. Many 
of them are well educated. 

The first school was taught by Daniel Van Amberg, 
in a log building near where Wm. Olson now resides. 
There are now seven good school houses in which schools 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 283 

are in progress most of the year, under care of compe- 
tent teachers. 

The oldest church organization is the Spring Garden 
Swedish Evangelical Lutheran, organized in July, 1858 ; 
trustees, Jacob Johnson, Nels Challberg, S. Anderson. 
They met for worship in private houses and school 
houses till l.S(j2, Avhen a moderate sized church was 
built. This has since been replaced by a fine edifice, 
capable of seating 600 people. The present member- 
ship is between three and four hundred. 

The other church is styled the Urland Norwegian 
Lutheran church which is located in the southwest part 
of the township. This organization was effected in the 
winter of 1S71. Trustees who first served were Lars 
Flom, T. A. Melhus, Ole A. Melhus, Rognold J. Onstad, 
J. Ingerbretson. Their church building was completed 
and dedicated in 1874 It is an elegant and costly 
structure capable of seating 600 people. The present 
membership is larger than usual for country churches. 

There are two fire insurance companies which have 
their headquarters in this township, keeping farming 
property well insured in this and the adjoining towns, 
against losses by fire, at the least possible expense. An 
admission fee of one dollar is required, and members 
are assessed to pay damages in case of loss. As yet 
losses have been comparatively few. 

It has been well remarked of Leon, " that its cultivated 
fields, possessing a soil of mirvelous fertility, its broad 
acres of arable land, its timber and water, beautiful res- 
idences, barns and granaries, flocks and herds, and finally, 
the health and general prosperity of its inhabitants, are 
the living evidences of a section of country rich in 
natural resources and abounding in happy homes." 



284 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

MINNEOLA. 

This township is bounded on the north by Belle 
Creek, east by Zunibrota, south by Roscoe and west by 
Wauaniingo. The north branch of the Zumbro runs 
through it from west to east ; numerous springs and 
rivulets flowing into the same, along its winding course, 
afford plenty of water. Natural groves of forest trees 
abound, and growing shade trees are seen surrounding 
nearly every farm house. 

The first claim was made by Christian Peterson, in 
May, 1855, on section 26. This first habitation was 
constructed of brush, but was improved in the fall by 
the addition of some boards. In June, the same year, 
John Mabee and A. C. Erstad came and marked out 
claims, sharing together the hardships of settlers remote 
from civilized society during the folloAving winter. Mr. 
Mabee returned to his native country, Norway, the next 
spring. Mr. Ersted remained and the records of his 
prosperity are now clearly seen in his fine buildings 
with tasteful surroundings and highly cultivated farm. 
And he is not alone, but surrounded by neighbors, in 
similar circumstances of prosperity, having all the ad- 
vantages of churches, schools and good society. 

A number of other settlers came here in 1856, ajnoug 
whom were Daniel Eames and Julius Peck. Mr. Peck 
brought the first team of horses into the town. Mr. 
Eames participated in the self-denials and struggles of 
the time, till he had but just begun to reap the benefits 
of his toil when he was called to his eternal home. He 
died in October, 185*.) ; his being the first death among 
the settlers in the town. A native of New England, he 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 285 

was a man of sterling character, beloved and honored 
by all who knew him. 

A grist mill and flouring mill was built by Nichols & 
Ford in the southeast part of the town at a very early day, 
which, with additions and improvements, is still in oper- 
ation. 

Messrs. A. J. Gro»'er and J. B. Locke, botii early 
settlers of Minneola, and who have represented the 
county in the State legislature, are still living here and 
enjoying the fruits of their labors, in beautiful resi- 
dences, on highly cultivated grounds. 

The larger portion of the inhabitants emigrated from 
Europe. The first church was built by the Norwegian 
Lutherans at a cost of $3,500. It is located in the south- 
east part. The same people have since erected another 
large church in the north part of the town ; both have 
large congregations. The German people have also two 
fine churches. One is called the German Lutheran, the 
other German Methodist. The town contains several 
fine public school buildings. The first school was 
taught by Charles Locke, no public school district hav- 
ing been organized at the time. The first public school 
was taught by Mrs. Daniel Eames in her own house. 
The first child born was Eddie Crowell in 1857. The 
first marriage that occurred was between George Reese 
and Harriet Wightman in Jane, 1858. 

This township was at first united with Zumbrota 
under one organization, in the spring of 1858. I, C. 
Stearns, T. D. Rowell and George Sanderson were the 
first supervisors. In December, 1859, a notice was 
posted in several places, signed per order, requesting 
the voters living in township 110, range 16, to meet on 
the fifteenth of that month at the residence of the late 



286 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

Daniel Eames, to take into consideration the expediency 
of a separate organization, choose a name for the town, 
and, if deemed best, elect the necessary officers for 
doing town business. At the meeting held as above 
called, N. Mulliken was called to the chair and J. B. 
Locke chosen secretary. Two names were presented, 
Paris and Minneola. The latter was finally agreed upon 
as the name for the new organization. Minneola is an 
Indian term, signifying mucJi waier. There were 
thirty-two voters present and it was agreed upon to elect 
town officers and send a report of this action to the 
meeting of the county board, to be held in Red Wing, 
January, 1860. 

The following officers were elected : J. 13. Locke, 
Brant Thompson, J. Clark, supervisors ; R. Per- 
son, town clerk ; Henry E. Siiedd, assessor ; A. J. 
Grover and N. INIulliken, justices ; W. B. Williams and 
E. L. Kingsbury, constables. A. J. Grover and J. B. 
Locke were app nnted a committee to present this action 
to the county board. They did so, but the matter was 
deferred by that board until after a meeting of both 
townships should act upon the matter of separation. 
The town of Zumbrota, at its annual meeting in the 
spring of 1850, approved of the separation. The county 
board met again in June and after acting upon the 
matter the following notice was issued by Hans Mattsou, 
county auditor: 

STATE OF MINNESOTA, { ^^ 
County of Goodhue, \ ' '^' 

Whereas, The board of county eoniiiiissionors of said county 
have on the fouitli instant detached town 110, range IG, from 
the town of Zumbrota, and organized the same as a separate 
town by the name of Minneola; Therefore, no'tice is hereby given 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 287 

that a meeting will be held at the residence of J. B. Locke, in 
said town of Minneola, on the eighteenth day of June, 1860, for 
the purpose of electing officers of said town, to-wit : Three su- 
pervisors, one clerk, one assessor, two justices, two constables and 
all other town officers. Hans Mattson, 

County Auditor. 
Dated June 6, 1860. 

The meeting was held as above notified, and regular 
otiicers chosen. Thus the organization was perfected. 

PINE ISLAND. 

This town situated on the southern border of the 
county attracted a large number of settlers in the early 
times, on account of its natural advantages. It is bound- 
ed on the north by Zumbrota, west by Eoscoe, east by 
Wabasha county, and south by Olmsted county. Its 
superior advantages over other prairie townships were 
plenty of wood and running water. 

Some four or five sections of land in the northern 
part were originally covered with a heavy growth of 
timber, and about two sections in the southwestern por- 
tion of the township were in the same condition. The 
balance was open prairie. The whole surface is gently 
rolling, the soil deep and rich. 

Fortunately the wooded portions have not been cleared 
to any great extent as yet, but are held in small 
tracts, for fencing, building and to supply fuel for the 
households in the village and on the prairie. 

The island proper is formed by the middle branch 
of the Zumbro, which circles around the present village, 
enclosing a tract once thickly studded with tall pine trees. 
Alas, how few of these tall monarchs of the forest are 
to be seen at the present day ! This spot was one of 
the favorite resorts of the Dakota Indians. They called 



288 HISTORY or goodhue county. 

it Wa-zee-wee-ta, Piue Island, and here in their skin 
tents, they used to pass the cokl winter months, shel- 
tered from the winds and storms by thick branches of 
lofty pines. The chief of Red Wing's village told the 
commissioners of the United States, when asked to sign 
the treaty that would require his people to relinqnisli 
their home on tlie Mississippi river, that he was willing 
to sign if he could have his future home at Pine 
Island. 

It is generally understood that H. B. Powers was 
the first man who came and built his cabin in this town 
in the year 1854 Josiali Haggard, early in the spring 
of that year, made a claim near where Dr. Charles Hill 
now resides. A man named Howard soon came and 
jamped this claim. Haggard then crossed the Zambro 
and made a second claim. Moses Jewell and his son 
Solomon came the next year and pre-empted this claim. 
Nelson Denison, another pioneer, pre-empted a claim 
further east the same season. A large number of set- 
tlers soon after came, among whom were Giles Hay ward, 
N. S. Newton, J. A. Tarbox, Philip Tomes, John Lee, 
John Chance, Sylvester Dickey and brother, C. I\. 
White and others. John Salmon Avas the first preacher 
and held services at the settlers" houses. The first mar- 
riage celebrated in the town was between A. B. Crou 
and Sarah C. Jewell, in July, 1856. The first child born 
in the town was Flora Ann Powers. The first school 
was taught by Thomas McManus. 

A saw mill was begun in 185(5 by Haggard Sc How- 
ard, which was ran for a season by Leroy <t Powers. 
About 200,000 feet of pine lumber was manufactured 
in the early years. This mill was sold to J. A. Tarbox 
in 1858. 



HiSTORT OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 289 

Pine IslaDcl village was surveyed and platted by 
Wm. Rock, in 1857, on land owned by Mr. Jewell and 
J. A. Tarbox. It grew rapidly to a flourishing business 
point. The first hotel was built by E. Denison. John 
Chance was the first post-master. 

John Lee built a hotel in the north part of the town- 
ship on the stage route, leading from Saint Paul to 
Dubuque, as early as 1855, which was a well known 
stopping place for travelers and laud seekers for several 
years. This popular landlord was also post-master of 
the place, which was then known as Poplar Grove, but 
at the present time the fact of its existence is scarcely 
remembered. 

The Northwestern railroad now passes through this 
towu. Lena, one oE its stations, is in the northern part, 
and another at the village. 

The village is now incorporated as a muuicip.il- 
ity separate from the township. It is well supplied 
with hotels, mills, business houses, school buildings 
aud church 3s. A weekly paper called the Phw Island 
Record is published here. The public schools are 
graded, and under the iustruction of competent teach- 
ers. One of the former Pine Island school boys holds 
the position of United States Consul in the Argentine 
Republic, South America. The place has trained up 
many lady teachers for ihis and other states. 

A national bank has been established here within a 
few years, which shows that business is still increasing. 
Pine Island has three church edifices. The M. E. 
church was built in 1864 and has a large flourishing 
congregation. The Protestant Episcopal church was 
erected in 1871, at a cost of $2,800 and is doing good 
Avork. The Roman Catholics have also a large church 

20 



290 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

and congregation. Pine Island has many attractions 
at the present day for those who seek for a permanent 
village home. 

ROSCOE. 

This township lies directly west of Pine Island and 
very nearly resembles that town in its natural advan- 
tages. It possesses fine prairie lands, and both wood 
and running water in abuudance adjacent thereto. 
The middle branch of the Zumbro flows through the 
south part, along which are broad tracts of heavy wood- 
land, bearing white and burr oak, sugar maple, elm, 
and poplar. 

James Haggard and W. Wilson made the first settle- 
ment in 1854. During the same year Simon Sackett, D. 

F. Stevens and H. D. Devoe, are said to have made 
claims. These were followed the next year by Fletcher 
Hagler, J. R. Good, David Coleman, J. Rutherford, 
Wm. Farnam, Alex. Long, P. G. Wilson, Wm. Fry, T. 
D. Hall and J. J. Hagler. Fletcher Hagler selected 
his claim on the ground where Roscoe village is, and 
there built the first frame dwelling in the township. 
He was the first post-master. 

Oliver Webb, a lineal descendant of the Pilgrim 
fathers, came in 1856 and settled here, and is still a res- 
ident, over eighty years of age. 

J. G. Hepner, the first blacksmith, built his shop 
here that year, and worked at his trade many following 
years. Two brothers named Dickinson, B. W. Hiilliday, 

G. G. McCoy, H. B. Powers, were among the number 
who settled as early as 1856 and are still living. Mr. 
Dana, the father of Charles S. Dana, our present deputy 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 291 

county aaditor, was among those who came that year, 
and Avho died in 1859. 

Hagler & Good built and stocked the first store. 
The first public religious service was held in the house 
of Mrs. Stevens in the fall of 1854. Rev. John Salmon 
officiated. The first church organization took place in the 
village school house in the spring of 1857. H. C. Emery 
and Mahala Sacket were the first couple united in mar- 
riage in the year 1856. The first death among the set- 
tlers was a Mr. Fry, that year. The first birth was a 
pair of twins to Mrs. Haskell Burch, while living in a 
covered wagon, awaiting the completion of a better hab- 
itation. Miss Annette Leek taught the pioneer school. 

A sad calamity occurred in this town in 1860, in 
connection with the burning of a building occupied by 
Mrs. Jeremiah Kay and her children, her husband being 
absent from home. It was in the month of June. A 
violent' storm came on and a bolt of lightning struck the 
house, setting it on fire. Mary Shields, a girl living 
with Mrs. Ray, succeeded in getting the two older chil- 
dren out of the house and ran to the neighbors for help. 
Mrs. Ray escaped also and finding the house was likely 
to be destroyed, rushed in to save her twin babes, but 
was so blinded by smoke she failed to rescue them, 
barely escaping with her life. The babies perished. 

George Lantz, who had been a soldier in the Union 
army came to his death under the following circumstan- 
C3S : In the winter of 1865-6, he went to Mantorville, 
Dodge county, about twelve miles from home, on horse- 
back, and returning in the evening, a blizzard met him. 
While passing through a grove of timber he was warned 
of his danger in trying to reach home, but he persevered 
and was found frozen to death the next morning within 



292 HISTORY OP GOODHUE COUNTY. 

a few rods of his own home. He had reached a fence, 
which in endeavoring to climb over, had made a mis- 
step and fell back to rise no more. The horse was 
found at one of the neighbor's barns. It was supposed 
that he let the horse go, hoping that by walking he 
should be more likely to keep from freezing. 

In 1858 another post-office was established in the 
northern central part of the town, called Roscoe Center, 
where there is now a store, blacksmith shop, a fine 
school building, and a Lutheran church, capable of seat- 
ing 500 persons. 

At Roscoe village there is now a cheese factory, a 
fine brick school building, stores, dwellings and other 
adjuncts of a country village. Roscoe presents to a 
traveler, at the present day, all the signs of thrift and 
prosperity incident to a well ordered and industrious 
community — a place of comfortable homes and an 
abundance of the necessaries of life. 

STANTON. 

This township was first called Lillian, but was after- 
ward changed to Stanton, in honor of one of its oldest 
settlers, William Stanton, Sr. It is situated in the ex- 
treme northwest corner of the county. Cannon river 
separates it from Dakota county on the north. On the 
east it is bounded by Cannon Falls township, on the 
south by Warsaw, and west by Dakota county. The 
Cannon river affords excellent mill privileges along the 
northern border by a succession of rapids, for a long 
distance. Prairie creek runs through the town from 
south to north in a meandering course ; and the Little 
Cannon flows along the eastern border ; besides there 
are numerous springs with smaller sh'eanis. 



HISTOEY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 293 

Late iu the fall of 1854, John and George Seasons 
made claiais on the Little Cannon. Soon after Jonathan 
and Alonzo Dibble, and William Thomas settled near 
them. 

A party of emigrants from Wisconsin came in 1855, 
and settled on Prairie creek, among whom were Nor- 
man Daniels, William Stanton, Sr., William Stanton, Jr., 
Robert Deakin, Samuel Daniels, and George Gould. 
The section along this creek is a broad and beautiful 
valley bordered by higher prairie lands, rendering it 
picturesque and charming to the viewer. The soil is of 
the best quality for agriculture. The pioneer settlers 
were nearly all from New England. 

The first couple joined by marriage was George 
Gould and Experience Daniels, in October, 1855. The 
first death was that of Mrs. George Seasons. The first 
religious services held in the town were in the winter 
of 1855-6, in the house of William Stanton, Sr. Rev. J. 
W. Hancock, of Red Wing, officiated. William Cleve- 
land taught the first school. The log house built by 
William Stanton, Sr., near the road leading to Faribault 
from the nearest Mississippi towns, was for several 
years the only place for the entertainment of travelers 
between Cannon Falls and further west. Mr. Stanton's 
latch string was always hanging out and every civil ap- 
paaring stranger was welcome to such accommodations 
as he had. He frequently entertained fifty persons the 
same night. 

Not many of those who came to settle in the fifties 
were able to have a good sized log house. Sod houses 
and board shanties were more common. Thirty years 
and more have brought great changes. A country vil- 
lage, with many fine residences, a post-office, stores; 



294 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

with a neat church, school house and some mechanic 
shops, now occupy the grounds where once the lonely 
log cabin stood. There is now a flourishing cheese 
factory at Stanton village, and a railroad station. 

There is on the Little Cannon a large flouring mill, 
where there is a cluster of nice dwellings and other 
buildings. This place is known as Oxford Mills. A 
neat M. E. church adorns this village. Stanton is well 
supplied with churches, school houses, elegant farm 
houses and well cultivated farms. 

VASA. 

This town was named in honor of Gustavus Yasa, 
king of Sweden. It is bounded north by the Cannon 
river, which separates it from the town of Welch ; east 
by Featherstone ; south by Belle Creek ; and west by 
Cannon Falls. A branch of the Cannon river, called 
Belle creek, runs through this township from south to 
north. The surface is somewhat broken or rolling. 
The soil is excellent. 

Vasa took the lead of all the farming towns of the 
county, in its date of settlement. S. J. Willard, Hans 
Mattson, Charles lioos, Gustaf Kemp, and Peter Green, 
came and made claims in the year 1853. Eoos and 
Kemp stayed through the winter ; the others returned 
to Ked Wing to tiud work till the spring of 1854, when 
they began in earnest to build houses to live in and 
break up the soil. A few accessions were made to the 
colony that year., and one of them, whose name is now 
forgotten, died soon after his arrival. This was the 
first death, and his mortal remains were tenderly and 
reverently conveyed to their last resting place, in the 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 295 

land he had crossed the ocean to look upon, but not 
enjoy. 

The first marriage celebrated was that of Hans Matt- 
son and Miss Cherstie Peterson, November 21, 1855. 
A school was taught here in the fall of 1856, by a Mr. 
Battoa. Aiicther was taught in the Swedish language 
by James Eugberg. Meetings were held on the Sabbath 
and Lutheran church services read by H. Mattson till 
a minister arrived. 

The struggles and triumphs of these first settlers 
will be best described by themselves, and we shall 
give extracts from narratives written and addresses 
made by two of their most prominent leaders, as 
follows : 

Hon. Hans Mattson writes in his early recollections : 

In the spring of 1853, I left Moline, Illinois, for Boston, to 
meet my mother and sister. They were to leave Sweden about 
the same time on a sailing ship carrying some 200 emigrants. 
The ship was three months on the ocean and there was a great 
scarcity of provisions before landing. The ship at last arrived 
in the month of July ; and a couple of days later the whole party 
took the cars for the West, I volunteering as their guide and in- 
terpreter. All went well until about 100 miles east of Chicago, 
when the baggage car attached to our train in front, caught fire. 
It was thought best to try to reach a station, and the burning 
train sped on at the rate of sixty miles an hour. The scene was 
a frightful one, the cars filled with frightened emigrants, the 
Hames hissing like serpents from car to car, windows cracking, 
people screaming and women fainting ; all at the same time look- 
ing to me for protection and deliverance. As soon as possible, I 
placed men as guards^ at the door to prevent the people from 
rushing out and crowding each other off the platform. The train 
did not reach a station, but had to be stopped on the open prai- 
rie, where all were helped out of the cars, without accident ex- 
cept that every particle of baggage except what the passengers 
had in their seats with them, was burnt. In due time another 



2% HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

train brought us to Chicago, where the raih-oad c(Jinpany imme- 
diately offered to pay all losses, as soon as lists of the property 
destroyed could be made out and jjroperly veritied. I did all the 
work without the aid of counsel, lawyer or clerk, collecting n(*arly 
twenty thousand dollars for old trunks, spinning wheels, copper 
kettles, etc. Having lost nothing myself, I, of course, received 
nothing, and as the company did not consider it their duty to pay 
me for my trouble, one of the emigrants suggested that they 
should do something. The hat was passed around and the col- 
lection realized the magnificent sum of two dollars and sixty 
cents, which was paid me for b(ung their interpreter during that 
long journey and for collecting that large sum of money. But I 
raised no complaint. In due time my own family and friends 
arrived at Moline. Minnesota was then a territory but little 
known ; yet we had heard of its beautiful lakes, forests and 
prairies. There were many of the party who decided to find a 
place for a Swedish settlement where lands could be had cheap, 
Mr. Willard and myself among them. And it was finally agreed 
that a few of us should go to Minnesota and select a suitable 
place. Being the only one of the party who could speak the 
English language, I naturally became the leader of the explorers. 
My father went with us and so did Mr. Willard and his wife, 
my sister, the whole party taking deck passage on a Mississippi 
steamer, arriving at St. Paul during the month of August. St. 
Paul was then a town of a few hundred inhabitants. There we 
found Henry Russell, Johan Tidland and a few other Swedish 
pioneers. We learned that near Red Wing, jjlaces could be found 
with both timber and prairie, and an abundance of good water. 
After looking in various places we finally decided on the. present 
town of Vasa, al)out twelve miles west of Red Wing. Claims 
were staked out on Belle Cre(>k, north of White Kock, near where 
a large brick church now stands. 

After selecting this land, my father returned to Illinois. I 
went with the other explorers to St. Paul, where a council was 
held in which our whole party participattid, and it was decided 
that three of us, Messrs. Roos, Kemp and myself, should proceed 
to our claims that fall and do such work as we could untd the 
others could join us in the following spring. Red Wing was an 
old missionary station, containing only half a dozen American 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 297 

families; ainonf^ them Rev. J. W. }Iiinco(;k, who had Vjeen Bomo 
years a missionary amon;? the Indians. WilUam Freeborn, Dr. 
Sweney, H. L. Bevans, John Day, and a Mr. Potter, were the 
other setth'rs. There were also two Swedes, Peter Green and 
Nels Nelson ; also a Norwegian named Peterson. On the river 
ab(jut between Main street and the levee was a larf^e Indian camp 
of the Hioux tribe. All the country west of Red Win^ was then 
practically a wilderness, and my little party were the Hrst who 
started in to cultivate the soil and make a permanent settlement. 
After supplying ourselves at Had Wing with a tent, cook stove, 
provisions, carpenters" and other necessary tools, and a pair f)f 
oxen, we hired a horse team, packed our goods in a wagon, 
hitched the cattle behind and started for the new settlement. 
Towards evening we arrived at a grove on Belle creek where we 
pitched our tent and cooked our evening meal. .\nd only pioneers 
can understand how well it was relished idtcr a long day's tramp. 
The horse team returned alone with its driver in the morning 
and we were left in the wilderness. After a day's exploration 
we removed the camp to another point on the creek, near where 
Roos had taken his claim. It was now late in September, and 
our first care was to secure hay for the oxen during the coming 
winter. A few days' work produced a great stack. Having heard 
about prairie fires we concluded to guard our stack against them, 
so we set Hre to the short stubble around the stack intending of 
course to put out the inner circle of tire. But a minute and a 
half was sufficient to convince us that we had niad*^ wrong calcu ■ 
lation. for by that time the stack itself was burning with such 
fury that all the water in fielle creek could not <)uench it. .\nd 
this was not the worst. Before we had time to recjver from our 
astonishment the outer tire circle had extended over the best 
part of the valley and burned all the remaining grass which at 
that season was pretty dry. The following morning we all started 
in different directions to see if any grass was left in the county, 
and ffU'tunately fcjund plenty near our first camping ground. 
Having secured a second sfa(;k of very inferior hay we fjroceeded 
to build a rude log house, and had just finished it when Mr. 
Willard, my brother-in-law, appeared in our midst. I accom- 
panied him to Red Wing where we oVjtained work chopping 
steamboat wood during the winter. Early the next spring we 



298 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

commenced improving our claims, and before summer was ended 
our colony numbered ten families. These emigrants with their 
goods had to be transported from Red Wing to the new settle- 
ment, twelve miles, in the manner following : 

When in the spring of 1854 Willard and myself received a 
pair of three-year-old steers and a cow from my father, we could 
get no other wagon than a truck with wheels made of four-inch 
thick, oak cylinders, sawed oflf a log. A good wagon was made 
in this way. The wheels were only about twenty inches in diam- 
eter, hence I had great trouble in getting over the stumps be- 
tween John Day's ravine and Hay creek. The road was about 
where the Milwaukee railroad track is now. I often had to lift 
one end of the axle to straddle the stumps, one axle at a time of 
course, and as the steers were wild, and my assistants always 
newly arrived emigrants who did not understand how to conciliate 
the steers by forcible English, I often had great trouble. The 
wagon was stronger than the steers, however ; that helped me. 
On that truck I carted out the goods and supfjlies for all the 
emigrants that arrived at Vasa in 1854. 

Rev. E. Norelius, the pioneer Swedish Lutheran 
preacher of the county, gives his early experiences as 
follows : 

August 31, 1855, I landed at Red Wing at twelve o'clock at 
midnight ; took lodging at a miserable hotel ; tried to sleep but 
could not, for the mosquitoes. September 1, I made an attempt 
to ascend Barn Bluff before sunrise, but was recalled by the 
breakfast bell. I made inquiries to find if there were any Swedes 
in town, but obtained no information. After awhile I met with 
a Swedish servant girl, who told me there were quite a number of 
them in Red Wing, and gave me direction how to find them. 
After having spoken to several of them and explained the object 
of my visit, I proposed to hold a service in the evening, if a place 
could be had. They told me that the Presl)yterians had a meet- 
ing house -a shanty -in the burg, and that we possibly might 
get it. I then went to the Presbyterian minister (Rev. Mr. Han- 
cock), introduced myself, and asked for permission to use his 
chapel, to which he consented, provided I Would preach the sound 
gosjjel. In the evening I had about one hundred hearers, among 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 299 

whom many, no doubt, were hard cases. One poor fellow told me 
that the old devil may run after preachers, but he would not. 
However, not a few seemed to be edified and desired me to hold 
as many services as my time would permit. September 2, the 
Lord's day, I preached again in the afternoon in the Presbyterian 
chapel, the house being full, and making a new appointment for 
Monday night. I got a horse and a guide in the evening, and 
went out to Vasa, word having been sent before, for divine serv- 
ice in the forenoon on Monday. We went up the Spring creek 
valley and got over the prairies to Mr. Carlson's after dark. Mr. 
Carlson lived in a log house, a little to the northeast from the 
present brick church. I was hospitably entertained at his house, 
and on the following morning almost every soul in the settlement 
came together at Mr. Carlson's where services were held. No 
Swedish minister had visited before in their new home. After 
service a congregation was organized. In the afternoon I went to 
Red Wing and preached in the evening, organized a congregation 
and baptized two children. After making a tour to St. Paul, 
Stillwater, Marine and Chisago county, I retvirned to Vasa and 
held divine service in Nils Peterson's new log house. It was the 
21st of September, in the midst of equinoctial storms. The rain 
was pouring down, and I was suffering badly from the fever and 
ague, which I had brought with me from Indiana. A young 
man had taken me out from Red Wing in a lumber wagon. The 
Lord's supper was to be celebrated on this occasion ; the first in 
the history of the congregation at Vasa. At the close of the ser- 
mon I had a very bad attack of the chills, and had to go to bed, 
the people in the meanwhile patiently waiting till the spell was 
over, after which I got up and administered the communion. On 
the 24:th of Sepfember, I bade the good people of Vasa farewell, 
and was glad to find an ox team to take me to Red Wing on my 
way to Indiana. 

Soon after I had left, a meeting was held by the congrega- 
tion at Vasa for the object of electing a pastor. It was then 
unanimously resolved to extend a call to me. The sum of $200 
was guaranteed as a salary for the first year, with the expecta- 
tion that the congregation at Red Wing would contribute the 
like amount. With the view that most of my parishioners in 
Indiana who owned no land there, would go along with me to 



300 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

Minnesota, I accepted the call and moved to Goodhue county in 
the spring- of 1856. I was in my twenty-third year ; had been 
married nearly one year. I knew that a life full of hardships was 
before me, but I had made up my mind beforehand, with the 
help of God, to conquer or die. I told my excellent young wife 
that we should have to swim or else to sink, and she consented 
to do her part. 

For several weeks we lived at Peter Nelson's, in the same 
room where I preached. Our whole property consisted of a bed- 
stead, of the rope bottom kind, a plain table, an old bureau, an 
old cook stove, and some few books. Bacon and Hour were high 
at Red Wing and it cost .f-i to bi'ing a sack of flour and a ham 
home to Vasa. A log building designed for a school and meet- 
ing house had been put up on Mr. Willard's farm, but was not 
completed at the time I arrived and it took all summer to get it 
in order for winter use. I bought the improvements on a quarter 
section of land in the neighborhood of White Rock. There was 
a small log hut, 8x10 feet in size, on it, with a flat sod roof, and 
no floor but the ground. I got some common lumVjer at Red 
Wing at a high price, and put up an addition to the hut, a shanty 
12xlG feet, intended for a parlor, sitting room, bed room, etc., all 
in one. We moved in when the three sides were up, without roof 
or floor, without doors and windows. Well do I remember our 
first night in that house. We made our bed on the ground on a 
pile of shavings and hay, with the blue sky above us. I had 
tilled the mattress with newly cut grass and unintentionally put 
in with it a small snake. No wonder that in the morning when 
my wife made up the bed, she caught hold of the dead snake ! 
I}y and by the roof and ceiling were put in, consisting of sheath- 
ing ; the floor was laid of common lumber, and tfie carpet put on; 
the walls were papered ; and then we had a xaice clean and cozy 
house to live in. The only inconveniences were when it stormed 
and rained ; for the carpet then stood like a bellows and the rain 
came pouring down through both roof and ceiling. On such oc- 
casions we used an umbrella. It was only a little odd to sleep 
under an umbrella in the house. 

In the middle of September we had a visit from the well 
knoivn Rev. Dr. Passavant, of Pittsburg, Pa., who stayed with us 
one night. He had a dream. In his nocturnal imaginations he 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 301 

thoufjfht he lay under the bottom of a hike, and somehow a hole 
had been made in the bottom. And no wonder, for it rained that 
niuht. Our neighbors were in no better condition and some a 
great deal worse off than ourselves. Newcomers from abroad 
kept arriving and houses were scarce. 

We continued to live in our frail house until the fourth of 
November, when we moved to Red Wing in a snow storm. On 
New Year's day, 1857, I had early service in the school house at 
Vasa, that is to say, at flv^e o'clock in the morning. As the 
weather was tine and mild. I determined to walk to Cannon Falls 
and preach in the afternoon. There was then no direct road to 
the Falls. We were obliged to go round by White Rock, then cross 
Belle creek, and over the prairie. I started afoot after break- 
fast. The sun shone brightly, the snow was deep and no track. 
By the time I got to the creek the weather had changed. A 
high, cold wind commenced to blow, and very soon a bitter snow 
storm was Ijlowing in my face. It was with great difficulty that 
I got over the prairie into the bush. There were no houses on 
the way. My scanty clothing, which had become wet by drag- 
ging myself through the snow, now began to grow stiff by the cold. 
I laid myself down under the first bush I reached, entirely ex- 
hausted, with little hope of rising again ; yet after some hours a 
little strength returned, and by the greatest exertion I finally 
reached Cannon Falls in the evening. But my ears, nose, hands 
and feet were frozen, and I could not speak for a good while. 
After having thawed out and taken some food, I was aV)letohold 
service at night, and on the following day returned to Red Wing. 

Mr. Norelius still resides in Vasa, a veteran iu the 
work of building up and advancing the institutions of 
religion and education throughout the Northwest. 

Vasa has now two A'illages, each having a post-office, 
stores, mechanic shops, and a goodly number of private 
dwellings. 

Near the center of the township is the large brick 
Lutheran church and beautiful parsonage, which were 
finished in 1869 at a cost of over thirty thousand dollars. 
There are two other churches, a Baptist and a Metli- 



302 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

odist, in the near vicinity. Around these the principal 
village is planted, which bears the name of the town- 
ship. 

The other village is called White Rock, and is situ- 
ated near the southern line of the township. Here there 
is an extensive creamery, which turns out about 1,000 
pounds of fresh butter per day, using steam power to 
run the machinery. 

Vasa is a tine farming town, where churches and 
schools abound. Here is the Orphans' Home, a descrip- 
tion of which has already been given. 

Vasa and vicinity have been visited Avith more severe 
storms than other parts of this county. We give the 
details of the two severest. 

There have been some hailstorms in different parts 
of the county from time to time, injurious to growing 
crops and window glass, but always quite limited in 
extent. Twice since the settlem 'ut by whites, it has 
been visited by severe windstorms, called tornadoes or 
cyclones, doing much damage to the portions thus 
visited. 

In the latter part of the month of June, 1866, a ter- 
rific storm of this kind passed over the town of Burn- 
side, which commenced in the northwest part of Vasa, 
following nearly in the valley of Spring creek, and 
through the southern part of Burnside, across into Wis- 
consin, spreading desolation in its track. Fortunately 
there were but few buildings in its path, which was 
only a few rods in width. But it left its mark in the 
destruction of the crops and trees and buildings in its 
course for several miles. The house of Mr. Justin 
Cliamberlain, in Burnside, was totally destroyed. A 
Mr. Streeter had called at the house just as the storm 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 303 

came up. Mr. C. aud children were away in the field. 
When Mrs. Chamberlain saw the whirlwind approach- 
ing the house, she ran to the cellar and called to Mr. 
Streeter to follow; bat being quite old and feeble, he 
failed to reach the place of safety and was taken up 
with the house and so badly injured that he died in a 
day or two after. 

M. S. Chandler, then the sheriff of the county, was 
overtaken by the same storm on the road leading from 
Spring creek valley to Vasa prairie with his horse aud 
buggy. Mr. Chandler, seeing the commotion in the air 
filled with fiyiug debris approaching him, with admira- 
ble presence of mind, sprung from his carriage and 
threw himself fiat upon the ground, and laid hold of an 
oak bush, while the storm passed over him without 
injury. While holding himself close to the ground, he 
saw his horse and buggy whirling in the air some dis- 
tance above his head. But when quiet was restored, he 
looked in vain for them. A diligent search was made 
in the direction the storm had taken, and the horse, 
with a portion of the carriage, was found about a mile 
from the place where they had been taken up, lodged in 
the boughs of some trees. 

Another similar storm occurred on the night of July 
3, 1879, which was more destructive to life and property 
than the other. It had a much wider sweep and was 
accompanied with a heavy fall of rain. The wind and 
fiood did much damage in Eed Wing. Roofs were 
blown off, aud cellars of stores and houses filled with 
water. 

But the severest damage fell upon the town of Vasa. 
The force of the storm struck this town between eleven 
and twelve o'clock p. m., and though it lasted but a few 



304 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

minutes it did great damage. The Orphan's Home, 
having twenty-eight inmates, was leveled to its founda- 
tion while the children were all in their beds. Pieces 
oi the house and its contents were spread over the ground 
for miles. In the track of the storm, which was about 
fifty yards wide, scarcely a house or any other building 
escaped damage or destruction. The loss of life was 
fearful. A Mr. Holm and wife, G. V. Halberg, Erik 
Swenson, and seven of the orphan children were killed, 
and about thirty other persons badly wounded. Oiie of the 
orphan babies was asleep in its cradle at the time. The 
cradle was carried a short distance by the wind, when 
a door fell over it, and on this door there fell the ruins 
of a brick chimney. It took eleven men to lift the door 
otf the cradle, but when done the baby was found un- 
injured, and crowing as heartily as if the tornado was 
nothing but an every day occurrence. Another little 
one was found cowering under the lee of several large 
beams of timber, heavy enough to crush a house, but 
was unhurt. Another case of fortunate escape was that 
of a whole family of nine persons, who were precipitated 
into the cellar of their house, the walls of which fell on 
them, bat in some mysterious way they were all pro- 
tected from injury. 

WACOUTA. 

This is a factional township just east from Red Wing 
at the head of Lake Pepin, containing only about four 
sections of land. It takes the name of the last reigning 
chief of thelleil Wing band, which signifies The Shooter. 

The first settlement was made by George W. Bul- 
lard who came in 1850, and with the authority of a 
license to trade with the Indians began his improve- 



HISTOBY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 305 

luents. Abner W. Post came soon after and built the 
first house for Mr. Bullard. Post and Bullard put up a 
saw-mill and began the manufacture of lumber in 1853. 
Several families came and settled here about that time. 
A town site was surveyed and platted; building lots 
put on the market with some expectation of a future 
city. As early as 1854 hotels were built by Daniel Sand- 
ers and J. B. Smith ; both were well patronized, as a 
large number of men were employed in the lumber busi- 
ness. Rafting logs, which wei'^e from the pineries further 
north, was done here at that time. Wacouta contended 
with the village of Red Wing for the location of the 
county seat. It continued a busy and growing place up 
to the breaking out of the civil war. 

In the spring of the year 1857, Avheu the ice remained 
in the lake until the first of May, the place was crowded 
with travelers, so that a third hotel was erected and fur- 
nished by Mr. Bullard. A post-oflice was established 
and many improvements inaugurated. 

At the call for volunteers in 1861, about half of the 
legal voters of this village entered the army. The 
lumber business having already diminished, from that 
time the place did not flourish as a business point, and 
many of its inhabitants removed to other places. 

Since the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad 
has been built and a station established here it is be- 
coming a place of some importance again. 

Among the earliest settlers still living, and who 
remain here, are Deacon George Post and Abner W. 
Post, both of whom have served as county commis- 
sioners at different periods in the early history of the 
county, and as public spirited leaders in their own 
township. 

21 



306 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

Near the railroad station a mill for the manufacture 
of syrup and sugar from amber cane has been in suc- 
cessful operation a few years, owned by N. H. and Paul 
Post. 

Mrs. Julia B. Nelson, a well known lecturer and plat- 
form speaker, was for several years a resident of Wa- 
couta. She was the first person in Goodhue county who 
took a first grade teacher's certificate. After teaching 
in the country a few years, she married Mr. Ole Nelson, 
who had just returned from the war, depleted in health. 
In about two years she was left a widow, and also bereft 
of her only child. She thenceforth dedicated her life 
to the cause of humanity ; was for several years teach- 
ing among the freedmen in the South. A few facts of 
her early history will be interesting to the reader, as 
related by herself at a meeting of the old settlers in 
Lake Pepin valley : 

Had I ever been scalped by a savage Sioux, or seared to 
death by harmless Chippewas ; had I ever lived in a seven-by- 
nine log-house on three grains of corn a day ; had I ever prac- 
ticed driving four-in-hand with an ox-team; had I ever raised 
vegetables on territorial ground, or raised the chickens that 
crowed when Minnesota was admitted to the Union, it would 
not be inappropriate to call upon me, in an old settlers' meeting, 
and I should be both proud and happy to respond. 

As the case stands, if I speak and confine myself wholly to 
facts, I fear you will not be greatly entertained and will conclude 
that, as an old settler, I am a fraud and a failure. 

One darkish night in the June of 1857, the steamer Henry 
Clay landed at the town of Wacouta and from that boat stepped 
my father, Edward BuUard, who had been down the river and 
brought back with him some horses, some cattle, and two awk- 
ward school girls, one of whom was myself. Although it was 
late at night, I saw a good many lights in the darkness, and 
thought I had really come to town. Passing to my new home, I 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 307 

heard men swearing inside of one of the three hotels in the place, 
and thought I had come to a new country. 

I couldn't make a claim and develop the resources of the 
country, but I did what I could by attending the spelling-schools 
and lyceums which were in full blast. About two years after, I 
began "to teach the young idea how to shoot," and have followed 
that business much of the time since. 

Speaking of Sabbath keeping, in the early days when there 
was "no sound of the church-going bell," an aunt of mine who 
came to the state before I did, who had no neighbors, and whose 
husband had gone on a journey of several days, kept the Sabbath, 
as she supjjosed, and the next day put out her washing. Her 
husband returned and notified her that she had been washino- 
on Sunday. 

Great changes have been wrought before our eyes, great im- 
provements have been made in our time ; but what pleases me 
most of all — more than the thought of railroad facilities and 
wonderful immigration, more than telegraphic communication 
and sfjacious and beautiful public buildings— is the prosperity of 
those who came here to make homes, bringing with them only 
health and hope and honest hearts and willing hands. To see 
those who worked hard behind oxen, riding with their own horses 
and carriages, and to see those who lived in log huts now occupy- 
ing comfortable houses, enjoying themselves and educating their 
children — that is best of all. 

At Wacouta in the old lyceum days there was a poet John 
Wear*, who was also a prophet, and he wrote : 

" Wacouta cannot stand 

For it's founded on the sand." 

There was truth in the poetry— there has been fulfillment to 
the prophecy —Wacouta has passed away and we are left to tell 
of it. 

The reporter thinks it is well to note in the old set- 
tlers' record of this annual meeting, that Mrs. Nelson 
spoke entirely off hand, without any notes, and with 
much grace of voice and manner, and as the Green 

"^ Now Hon. John Wear, of Sagar Loaf Valley. 



308 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

Mountain poet, speaking of the Vermont women, com- 
paring tliem with their maple sugar, her speech 

" Was nice and sweet 

And withal decidedly hard to beat." 

Wacouta has lately become a place of rest and recre- 
ation in the summer. About three-fourths of a mile 
from the railroad station, after passing through a small 
grove, the traveler may find himself at Vivian park, at 
the head of Lake Pepin. Here the waters of the great 
river expand into a wide and deep basin, which has all 
the qualities of a great lake, whose waters are still, ex- 
cept when stirred by the wind. 

There, on high ground overlooking the lake, can be 
seen a row of cottages. Some eight or ten are already 
finished, while there is room for as many more, com- 
manding the same extensive view of lake and wild sur- 
rounding scenery. 

Here, separated from the noise and dust of the busy 
world, one can enjoy freedom from care ; rest from ac- 
customed labor ; and healthful amusements. The facil- 
ities for hunting, fishing, rowing and sailing are abund- 
ant. Mr. Elijah Brown, the proprietor, has had a fine 
park laid out in rear of the cottage lots, with walks and 
carriage drives, through rows of trees, flowering shrubs 
and plants. He seems determined to spare neither 
time nor expense in making the place attractive. The 
famous nelumbian lily, often called the lotus, grows 
naturally and in great abundance near this resort. 

WANAMINGO. 

This town is bounded north by Leon, east by Miu- 
neola, west by Holden and south by Cherry Grove. The 
north branch of the Zumbro river runs through the 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 309 

southern portion of this town, and a branch of the 
Cannon, through the northwestern part. The surface 
is gently rolling, and the soil very fertile, well watered 
by many springs and running streams, and where these 
are not at hand, water is foand by digging a few feet 
below the surface. 

There are natural groves of timber in all parts, side 
by side with the open prairie. No other township in 
the county furnishes equal advantages to the farmer. 

The first settlers came here in 1854, and were natives 
of Norway. Early in that year Henry Nelson came to 
Dodgeville, Wisconsin, from California, where he had 
been staying a few years, and accumulated a snug little 
sum of money. About the same time his older brother, 
Torga Nelson, then a widower, came back to the same 
place from Australia, where he had also earned some 
money. Tliey then agreed to go to the northwest together 
and search for a home. After purchasing a team, they 
started, and after being on the way as far as Root river, 
they heard that the territory of Minnesota contained 
good farming land with wood and water. 

They then purchased a number of cattle and such 
farming implements as they would need for beginning 
farming operations. They were now joined by Thosten • 
Anderson, another of their countrymen, who was also in 
the same pursuit. As both the Nelsons were determined 
to start in farming with all there was in it, they each 
hired a man to help them. Henry hired William Wil- 
liamson (Kuuningpu) and Torga hired Nils Gulbrand- 
son. Both these hired men were carpenters by trade. 
Mr. Gulbrandson left his family in Wisconsin, expect- 
ing to return for them in the fall, provided he liked the 
new country. 



310 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

The prairie schooners were ready, and the little 
company started for the unknown land on the 21st of 
May, consisting, besides those already named, of the 
family of Henry Nelson, and also that of Thosten Ander- 
son, with the two sisters of the Nelsons, namely, Mrs. 
Jens Ottuu, whose husband had not yet arrived from 
the old country, and Mrs. Nels K. Fenne, whose hus- 
band was then in California. 

After rambling over the new territory of Minnesota 
for three weeks, they came, on the 12th of June, to the 
place which is now called Wanamingo. They had for 
many days not seen any white persons but themselves. 
At about 11 a. m., on the day above named, they crossed 
the north fork of the Zumbro. Torga Nelson stopped 
his team and looking around saw there was a fine park, 
with beautiful land adjacent. He exclaimed : " Here 
I will live and die." His words have been fulfilled; he 
died in 1889, having lived in that place thirty-five years. 
The whole company found it to be the desirable country 
for settlement, and so began their improvements. 

Knowing nothing as to how much land one man 
could hold as a claim, they marked off large portions, 
for they expected others of their countrymen to join 
them in making the town a Norse town. They began 
by making dug-outs and sod shanties for living and 
sleeping apartments. They broke up the prairie for 
field culture, and planted some corn, sowed buckwheat 
and rutabagas. Tbey also planted a few potatoes that 
season. 

Four weeks after this party had made their stand, 
two young men, Hans Ovaldson and Andrias Hesjelden 
came to the 'place, having followed their tracks. These 
young men belonged to a larger party of immigrants, 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 311 

whom they had left some thirty-five or forty miles be- 
hind. They were so much pleased with the location 
that they started back immediately for their comrades. 
They found them and induced nearly all of them to come 
to Wanamingo, 

This last party consisted of Andres Baarnhus and 
his family, John Stroemme and family, Kolben Ektevest 
and family, Gunder Hestemyr, Ole O. Oakland, Haldor 
Johnson, also having their families. About the first of 
August another train of Norwegian immigrants came 
on from Wisconsin, but finding the township of Wana- 
mingo already claimed, they went further west into 
Holden and Kenyon, some even beyond the county line 
west, to make claims. 

In the latter part of July, this town was visited by 
two men from Eed Wing which was the first intimation 
the new settlers had of the existence of such a place. 
These men informed them that Red Wing was on the 
Mississippi river, about thirty miles distant, in a north- 
easterly direction. This information was a great bene- 
fit, as before this they knew of no market town nearer 
than Decorah, Iowa. 

In August, Nils Gulbrandson went to Wisconsin for 
his family, and it was agreed that he should meet Mr. 
Jens Ottun there, who had arrived from Norway, and 
accompany him to Red Wing on a steamboat. Three 
weeks later Torga and Henry Nelson set out for Red 
Wing to meet them. After wandering about two days 
they found the place. In the meantime the party had 
arrived, but both men had taken the cholera while on 
the steamboat. Mr. Gulbrandson died in one hour after 
landing. Mr. Ottun survived. They were left on the 
shore by the boat hands. Mrs. Gulbrandson took charge 



312 HISTOBY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

of her dyiuw husband and a grown-up daughter. The 
latter also took the disease and died shortly after her 
father. 

Mr. William Freeborn, seeing Mr. Ottun lying ou 
the levee with none seemingly to care for him, offered 
five dollars to the man who would take him to some 
house and care for him over night. A few days after 
this, the Nelsons had arrived in Bed Wing and found 
Ottun so far recovered as to be walking about, and he, 
in company with Mrs. Gulbrandson and her son Gilbert, 
returned with the Nelsons to the new settlement. The 
next year Mr. Torga Nelson and Mrs. Gulbrandson 
were married. 

In October, 1854, the Nelsons went again to Red 
Wing for winter supplies. Nils J. Ottun, the son of 
Jens Ottun, relates that his father sent by them for 
flour and some other necessaries. Having only ten 
dollars, his wife sent a gold nugget worth ten dollars 
more. They bought two barrels of flour. His father 
worked for Mr. Torga Nelson, splitting rails, that winter, 
leaving himself and his mother to keep house alone. 
He remembers that his mother used to measure off the 
slice of bread for each to be eaten at every meal, the 
same size, and this with a little butter and something 
they called coffee for drink, constituted their every-day 
diet through the winter. In the latter part of March, 
the people who had settled in the northern part of the 
town, came to them for floar. They were entirely out and 
the snow was so deep they could not get to Red Wing. 
Only one barrel was then left in the settlement. That 
was one of the two which his father had bought, and it 
was equally divided among all and was made to last 
until the road to Red Wing became passable. 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 313 

The first death among the settlers was that of the 
youngest child of Thosten Anderson, named Berith. 
Mrs. Jens Ottun was requested to select a suitable place 
for a burial ground, and a farm for a preacher, which 
she did at the time of the burial of this child, in July, 

1854. The first white child born in this town was Knute 
N. Fenne, in September of the same year. 

The first marriage was a double wedding in Jane, 

1855. Mr. Torga Nelson and Mrs. Gulbrandson, already 
mentioned, and John J. Marifjerson and Miss Soeneva 
Johnson, were united at the same time by Rev. Nils 
Brant, of Oconomowoc, Wis. The first public religious 
service was held the same month by the same clergyman. 

The land selected for the preacher was that now oc- 
cupied by Rev. B. J. Muus, who came on in IS;")*). In 
the meantime they were supplied by several preachers 
from Iowa and Wisconsin. 

A few American families came to this town in 1855, 
and made claims in the southern portion, on the Zum- 
bro river. One of these settlers, Mr. James Brown, 
platted and laid into lots, forty acres of land, for village 
purposes, and called the place Wanamiiigo, the name 
of a heroine in a novel. The first store was built in 
this village by J. T. AVright. There are now several 
stores, one hotel, two blacksmith shops, a public school 
house, a fine church edifice, and a number of neat pri- 
vate dwellings. The American settlers have nearly all 
sold out and gone, and the village is occupied by the 
Norwegians and their descendants. There is another 
village in the northeast corner of the tovv^uship, called 
Hader, where there is a hotel, a public school house, 
several stores and shops. 

Near the center of Wanamingo is another cluster 



314 HISTOKY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

of buildings, a post-office, a large church, store and black- 
smith shop. This village is called Aspelund. Another 
village near the western boundary with similar advan- 
tages is called Norway. There are four post-offices in 
the township, ten school houses, one flouring mill, and 
three fine church buildings, each of the latter capable of 
seating 500 persons. Rev. B. J. Muus was the first 
settled pastor in the township. He became pastor of 
the first church organization which was called the 
" Eastern church of the congregation of Holden," and 
embraced all the Lutherans in several of the surround- 
ing townships, and consisted of more than seventy heads 
of families in its membership. The first board of trus- 
tees were Kuute K. Finseth, Kjostol G. Ntieseth, H. O. 
Huset and C. Lockrem. The next church organization 
was effected in 1859 and called the " Evangelical Lu- 
theran church " in Wanamingo ; Rev. O. Hanson, 
pastor. 

These first settlers had some difficulty the first year in 
adjusting the boundaries of their several claims. Not 
knowing how many acres one person could hold and 
preempt, their farms were unusually large. Disputes 
often arose, and it was reported that one fierce battle 
was fought on section twenty, using clubs, ax handles, 
etc., for weapons, "with damaging results to more pates 
than one." Every one wanted timber, prairie land and 
running water. It was in the latter part of 1855 before 
they found that each could hold but 160 acres, in ad- 
joining forty acre lots. In some cases their first build- 
ings would be a mile away from their breaking, as the 
late comers were obliged to claim a patch here, and a 
patch there, in order to satisfy all needs. So there were 
troubles to meet and overcome when they went to the 



HISTORY OP GOODHUE COUNTY. 315 

land office to purchase their lauds from the United States 
government, after it had come into market. 

Many had hard straggles to encounter in that settle- 
ment during the first two years. They had not the 
means to pay their passage over the sea and were obliged 
to devote their first earnings to that outlay. But for 
the fact that a few who had money and could furnish 
work for others who had none, there would have been 
much suffering. 

The people from Norway seem to be well fitted for 
pioneers in a new country. As farmers they have proved 
themselves to be more successful than any other nation- 
ality who have come to this county. With no other 
means than a willingness to labor in any work required 
to be done, with stout arms and faith in God and their 
fellowmen, many of them are now reckoned among the 
wealthiest of our citizens in every branch of busi- 
ness now carried on. The farms and farm buildings in 
the town of Wanamingo, at the present day, show a 
degree of thrift and industry equal to the best in this 
country. 

The first wheat crop was raised here in the year 
1856. There being no flouring mills near, it was all 
kept and used for seed. 

Wanamingo township was organized in May, 1858, 
by the election of the following officers : O. Hanson, N. 
K. Fenne and J. G. Brown, supervisors ; W. R. Brown, 
justice of the peace; J. T. Wright, town clerk ; Warren 
lUson, constable; N. K. Fenne, assessor. 

This town has the honor of being the first to build up 
and sustain the Norwegian Lutheran church, which has 
become the most numerous of the christian churches in 
the county, having about 1,000 communicants. This 



316 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

denomiDation have at the present sixteen church edifices 
in Goodline county. These buildings are large and 
fine, generally costing about )§4,000 each; and capable of 
seating comfortably from four to six hundred people. 
A parish school is connected with each church. 

They have an Acadomical School and Theological 
Seminary, in Red Wing; and also a Seminary for young 
ladies at the same place. Rev. B. J. Muus, the first 
settled pastor of this church, is still residing in Wana- 
mingo. 

WARSAW. 

This town is bounded on the north by Stanton, east 
by Leon, south by Holden, west by Rice county. The 
Little Cannon river, passing along the eastern border, 
gives it a broken woodland appearance in that part ; 
but the greater portion of the town is high rolling prai- 
rie with a deep rich soil. 

The first settlers came in 1855, among whom were: 
Moses, William and Edwin George, Robert McCorkle, 
Washington King, R. B. Wilson, E. H. Samuer, J. E. 
Wright and Francis IMcKee.^ They made their claims 
in the northern part of the township, broke up the soil, 
and commenced raising the golden wheat. 

The first school was taught by Emma Babcock, in 
the summer of 1851). Tlie first birth was a child to Mr. 
and Mrs. Washington King in 185(5; the first death that 
of Mr. John Chambers. Rev. Isaac Waldron was the 
first preacher, who held religious services in the house 
of Alexander McKee in the summer of 1858. There is 
a Baptist church in the northern part of the town. The 
people in the south part attend the Holden Lutheran 
church. 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 317 

There are three post-offices, one at the railroad sta- 
tion in the west, called Dennison ; one at Wangs, in the 
center; the other at Sogan, in the eastern part of the 
town. 

The southern part of this town was settled by people 
from Norway in the year 1856, among whom were 
Anders Anderson, Nils Gunderson, Ole and Hagen 
Knutson and Andrew Thompson. 

WELCH. 

This town includes the east half of government town- 
ship, 111 north, of range 1(3 west, and the whole of town- 
ship 113 north of range 16 west, except that part which 
lies south of Cannon river. It is bounded on the north 
by the Mississippi river, east by Buruside, south by 
Vasa, and west by Dakota county. The surface in the 
southern part is broken. The middle is rolling prairie, 
having an excellent soil. The nurthern portion consists 
of a large portion of Prairie Island, bordering the Ver- 
million and Mississippi rivers. There is plenty of wood 
along the rivers. The town was first organized under 
the name of Grant, 1864, It was soon after changed to 
the present name in honor of Judge Wm. H. Welch, who 
was Chief Justice of Minnesota territory, under the 
administration of President Pierce. 

A.mong the first permanent settlers were, E. W. 
Carver, William Boothroyd, Michael Henry, John 
Bloom, Gohcham Esta, D. O. Swanson and N. C. 
Crandall. 

The first board of town officers while under the 
name of Grant, were : A. Coons, Joseph Eggleston, 
Benjamin Bevers, supervisors; J. B. Waugh, town clerk- 
M. O'Kourke, treasurer; E. W. Carver, assessor; J, B, 



318 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

Waugh, justice of the peace; P. C. Brown and D. Black, 
constables. 

Ou the sixth day of September, 1864, a special town 
meeting was called for the purpose of voting a tax to 
raise money to pay volunteers to fill the quota required 
from the town, at which meeting it was voted to raise 
six hundred dollars as bounty to volunteers for the 
confederate war. Another war meeting was held Feb- 
ruary 11, 1865, for the purpose of raising more bounty 
money. At this meeting seven hundred dollars were 
voted to be raised to pay volunteers if they could be 
obtained ; if not, to pay the money to the men who stood 
the draft. E. W. Carver was selected to look after the 
matter of obtaining men to fill the town's quota. Those 
who went to the war from this town were: Pliilo Brown, 
J. S. Nelson and S. S. Twitchell. 

The name of the town was changed from Grant to 
Welch in January, 1872. The first town board for Welch 
was : M. Henry, Thomas Brenner and Michael Hart, 
supervisors; J. S. Nelson, clerk. 

The Swedish Lutheran church was erected in 1878, 
at a cost of $1,600, and its membership is about 180. 
The store at Welch Mills, a station on the Cannon Val- 
ley road, was built in 1886, at a cost of $500. An ele- 
vator was erected there in 1890 at a cost of $1,500, with 
a capacity of about 25,000 bushels. 

There are four school districts in this township in 
each of which is a good school house, the erection of 
which cost from $500 to $800 for each one. 

Among those who have been prominently identified 
with the interests of the town and county, is the Hon. 
N. C. Craudall, who settled here in 1869. He repre- 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 319 

sented his district in the State legislature in 1878 ; has 
been justice of the peace several years, and town clerk. 

Prothinent among the farmers of the county, is Mr. 
William Boothroyd, of this town, who has taken much 
interest in improving the breed of horses. 

Welch is a well watered and well wooded township, 
and its rolling prairie lands are under the best state of 
cultivation. 

ZUMBROTA. 

This township consists of rolling prairie with small 
groves of burr oak in a few places. The soil is excellent. 
The north branch of the Zumbro river runs through the 
southwest corner, and gives name to the township and 
village, by the addition of a syllable. 

The following history of the early settlement of this 
town has been kindly furnished by one who was an 
active participant in the events recorded: 

"Zumbrota was settled by a small fragment of a 
large company, called the Stafford Western Emigration 
company. The original company was organized in the 
winter of 1855-6. This company contained over 150 
members, most of them heads of families. Its members 
were mainly from Massachusetts and Connecticut. It 
had a paid up capital of some $30,000. The plan con- 
templated the purchase of at least a township of land 
in one body, and the laying out of a village in the center 
of the tract. The aim of tlie projectors was to plant a 
distinctively New England colony in the west. At a 
meeting of the company at Lowell, Massachusetts, in 
February, 1856, the organization was perfected and plans 
matured to transplant the colony in the early spring as 
soon'as a suitable site could be selected by the com- 



320 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

mittee oE three who were chosen for the purpose. This 
committee started for the West soon after the meeting 
at Lowell and took with them about $30,000 witli which 
to purchase laud and make the needed improvements 
ready for the colonists, when they should arrive. It 
would bo tedious to relate the details which followed 
the departure of the committee for the West. Suffice it 
to say none of the committee were practical men. 
They had no acquaintance with western affairs. And 
at least two out of the three seem to have had separate 
schemes of their own by which each hoped to 
subserve his own interest, or that of his friends 
and backers. The result was such as might have 
been expected. There soon developed dissensions 
and divisions in the committee. After wasting some 
three months of time and $3,000 of the company's funds, 
the company was called together again in May, at 
Lowell, to hear the report of the chairman of the com- 
mittee. The outcome of this meeting was a dissolution 
of the original company and a repayment of the funds 
to the members, less the amount expended, or squand- 
ered, by the committee. This repayment of the funds 
was obtained through the unflinching integrity of 
Charles Ward. 

" Immediately upon the breaking up of the original 
company, a few of its members proceeded to reorganize 
a new company upon a much smaller scale. Several 
members of this company immediately started fur Min- 
nesota in order to find a location for their little colony. 
Instead of a special committee the members constituted 
themselves a committee of the whole, and upon their 
arrival in Minnesota started out in search of laud. They 
had agreed upon Red Wing as a place of rendezvous, 



HISTORy OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 321 

where tbey should meet aud compare notes. A com- 
pany of three of these explorers, who seem to have been 
a leading sub-committee of the company, in the latter 
part of July, 1856, proceeded to the southwest of that 
point to the southerly part of the then territory of 
Minnesota. This committee consisted of Joseph Bailey, 
Daniel B. Goddard aud Samuel Chaffee. After several 
days of weary search for government laud that could be 
had for their purpose, and finding nothing to their lik- 
ing, they started on their return to Red Wing, weary, 
footsore and discouraged, fully resolved to return to 
New England. 

" Let us now for a brief period leave our travelers 
making their melancholy journey to the Mississippi 
river, and give a few moments attention to what had trans- 
pired in the valley of the north branch of the Zum- 
bro. There was a beautiful valley three miles in 
width and perhaps four miles in length, through 
the center of which the Zambro coursed like a 
serpentine band of silver. Oa account of this tract 
not being represented on the maps of the time as sur- 
veyed lands, it was supposed to be on the " Half Breed 
tract," so called, consequently up to midsummer, 1856, 
scarcely a settler had ventured into this beautiful val- 
ley. No road traversed it. The trail of the red man 
and the old paths left by the buffalo were the only evi- 
dence remaining that any living creature had ever trav- 
ersed the valley. The old territorial road from St. 
Paul to Dubuque crossed the Zumbro about one and 
one-half miles below the lower end of this valley. In 
the spring of 1856, a backwoodsman, by the name of 
Smith, who was a born pioneer and could no more en- 
dure civilization than a Sioux Indian, who nevertheless 



322 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

was shrewd and scheming, in one of his hunting trips 
for deer, ducks, or prairie chickens, strolled over the 
divide from the big woods on the middle branches of 
the Zumbro where he had settled the year before, into 
the above described valley. He fou jd to his surprise 
that no settler had invaded its precincts. His interest 
was aroused. He traveled over its length and breadth, 
appreciated both its beauties and its advantages, though 
one may suppose that its beauties in his mind had more 
of a practical than an esthetic value. Visiting the valley 
several times he discovered that near the center was an 
ideal site for a town ; that the road from E,ed Wing to 
the southwest, if straightened, would cross the Zumbro 
in the center of his proposed townsite, and that there 
was a natural crossing at that point. He also discovered 
that by straightening the St. Paul and Dubaque road 
it would also cross the center of this valley. Keeping 
all this to himself he found a man by the name of Aaron 
Doty, who would preempt a quarter section in the val- 
ley and share the land with him after the title was ob- 
tained from the government. The claim was filed on 
and made secure. This was Smith's first move. He 
next visited Red Wing and found a man by the name 
of Gambia, a merchant, who was willing to take a quarter 
section adjoining, and aid him in his townsite project. 
Meantime he had traced out the route for the change 
of the Red Wing and Mantorville road, and stationed 
himself somewhere near the center of the present town 
of Roscoe, in order to intercept some of the many teams 
which were passing from points south towards Red 
Wing. He was able now and then to persuade one to 
try the new route over the trackless prairie. In this 
way after awhile there was a wagon track that could be 



HISTORY or GOODHUE COUNTY. 323 

followed in the direction he desired, straightening the 
former road. It was late in July or early in August of 
1856, Smith and Doty had the walls of their shanty built 
to the height of some ten feet. It had as yet no roof. 
A few boards leaned against the inside wall and fur- 
nished them a rude shelter during the rain and at night. 
Occasionally a wayfarer would stop and share the hos- 
pitality of Smith, whose wife had come over from the 
woods to keep house for her husband. Doty, who was 
unmarried, boarded with Smith. The sun was ap- 
proaching the horizon the afternoon when three weary 
travelers called at Smith's shanty and asked for a drink 
of water, and some food. They were informed by 
Smith, who was delighted that his new road was be- 
ginning to be traveled, that he could accommodate them. 
Smith's wife soon spread before them on a rough board 
table such viands as her larder aflforded. consisting of 
wheat bread, molasses and cold boiled venison; some 
coffee, black as ink, without milk or sugar ; and a dish of 
cool water from a spring near by. These three travelers 
were the sub-committee whom we left journeying to- 
wards Red Wing. They anxiously inquired the dis- 
tance to Red Wing and also the distance to the 
nearest stopping place on the road. Smith having 
no accommodation for them over night. They conclud- 
ed to go on as far as Mooer's, who had a log house where 
Luther Chapman's house now stands. Smith, with his 
shrewd inquisitiveuess, had drawn out of these men the 
object of their journey, and the fact ol their failure to 
find what they were seeking for. Learning that they 
were representatives of a colony and had been upon an 
unsuccessful search for a suitable location, Smith with 
his rude enthusiasm told them that he had just the spot 



324 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

for them ; that the place where they now were was the 
promised land. He expatiated upon the fact that the 
center of the valley was just the place for a town ; that 
there was an abundance of vacant land all around ; 
pointed out the further fact that that particular point 
was the natural center of travel from St. Paul to Du- 
buque, Wabasha to Faribault, and Red Wing to Man- 
torville and other points to the southwest which made 
Red Wing their shipping point. But our travelers were 
too weary and discouraged to listen to Smith's sugges- 
tions and propositions. Samuel Chaffee, one of the 
three, an elderly man, was not only weary but sick. It 
was with difficulty that he could travel at all. He 
reached Red Wing the next day and died a few days 
after. As our trio ascended the northern slope of the 
valley, Mr. Chaffee, in his weak condition, sat down to 
rest. Turning his eyes toward the river, as the sun was 
casting its last rays upon the landscape, the view that 
met his gaze was one of unequaled beauty. So im- 
pressed was he that he called out to his associates to 
stop and look at the landscape as he was doing. At first 
they chided him for delaying their progress, but at his 
solicitation they returned to his side. He exclaimed 
to them, " How beautiful ! Why, is not that the spot we 
have been looking for?" His companions became in- 
terested also. As the shadows of evening began to fall, 
the three men arose with a profound conviction that the 
beautiful valley before them was their Canaan. It con- 
tinued to be the theme of their conversation, while pick- 
ing their way along the faint wagon trucks on the prai- 
rie, and at their lodging place. During the next day, 
with more hope than they had felt before, they made 
their way to Red Wing, Goddard and Bailey weary and 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 325 

footsore, Chaffee sick unto death. At Red Wing they 
found several of their associates awaiting them. They 
reported what they had found in the valley of the Zum- 
bro. It was resolved by all of them that the place 
should be visited the next day. The other members of 
the party, as the writer remembers, was Josiah Thomp- 
son, T. P. Kellett, Albert Barrett, and Dr. Ira Perry. 
On the following morning leaving Goddard to take care 
of his sick companion, Chaffee, the others chartered a 
conveyance and repaired to the valley of the promise. 
It was afternoon when they came in sight of it. The 
whole party were in ecstacies over the view that met 
their eyes, and all with one accord exclaimed, that is 
our land of promise. 

" They soon were in conference with Smith and Doty. 
The 160 acres preempted by Doty was negotiated for 
at a low price, each retaining an interest with the com- 
pany, which was denominated the (Stafford Western Em- 
igration company. Smith, who knew every acre of 
land in the valley, pointed out to them the claims, very 
few of which had as yet been taken. Three or four 
parties had settled in the valley besides Smith and Doty 
but they were soon bought out. Each of those pres- 
ent selected a claim for himself and one or two for his 
friends, who were in some cases real, and in others, 
imaginary. The land office was at Winona where all 
those who had selected claims repaired and made the 
necessary filing. On their return, our party fell in with 
several persons who were seeking places in the west 
where they could settle, among them J. A. Thacher, a 
civil engineer and surveyor. He -was induced to go 
along with the company. Meantime they had found a 
surveyor by the name of Beckwith, whom they had en- 



326 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

gaged to survey their townsite. Upon the return of the 
party from Winona, the townsite was surveyed and 
platted under the auspices of Messrs. Beckwith and 
Thacher. The shape of the original townsite was 
unique. It extended from the Zumbro river, one 
mile in length and about seventy rods in width. It is 
a matter of tradition thah the reason for laying out the 
town in this shape was that the town would eventually 
grow to large dimensions and would extend across the 
river. The townsite was bounded on the west for its 
whole length by a school section which was not then 
available. The 160 acres east of the surveyed townsite 
was claimed by S. P. Gambia, of Red Wing, who had 
become a member of the company, and who had prom- 
ised, as far as he dared do before getting the title to his 
land, that he would turn it in to the company and have 
it laid ou' into lots. One of the members had purchased 
of a settler a quarter section north of the school section, 
which some of the party alleged was to be turned in to 
the company and become a part of the extensive town- 
site, while Joseph Bailey and Ira Perry, getting pos- 
session of the adjacent land across the river, were to 
turn in that, in due course of time, to the company for a 
further addition to the townsite. Alas for human ex- 
pectations! The north quarter of the original strip of 
laud laid out for a townsite was all and more than was 
needed for town purposes for ten years after the events 
here narrated. 

" It was the second day of September, in the after- 
noon, a weary and footsore footman came hobbling down 
the southern slope of the valley of the Zumbro. His eye 
caught but one shanty in all the valley ; that was the 
new board shanty of Dr. Ira Perry, on the north side of 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 327 

the river, and one half mile distant from it. That was 
his objective point. The river was concealed from view. 
As he rounded a moderate sized rise of land on the 
school section he espied a log shanty much nearer than 
the one above mentioned. It seemed rather uninviting, 
but he concluded to call at it and make certain inquiries 
that were crowding his mind. As he approached this 
shanty he saw a large middle-aged man amusing himself 
by pitching quoits. Upon coming nearer the spot where 
this solitary individual was amusing himself -our trav- 
eler recognized T. P. Kellett, whom he had met at the 
meetings of the old company in Lowell, Massachusetts. 
Any one who has known Mr. Kellett for the last third 
of a century need not be told that a cordial greeting 
and hearty welcome was extended to this limping way- 
farer. 

"The individual whom we have just left in Mr. Kel- 
lett's care was the writer of this article. The above 
described event marks his entry into the valley of the 
Zumbro ; his entrance into the city of great expecta- 
tions, then without a name. A few events antedating 
the above described occurrence may not be wholly unin- 
teresting. 

" The writer was principal of a New England academy 
in New Hampshire. He had caught the western fever, 
but was not dangerously affected till one day in the fall 
of 1855, he happened to read in some local paper a 
clipping from the Lowell Courier, giving an account of 
a large colony which was in process of organization, 
whose object was to secure a large tract of land in the 
west and the establishment of a New England commu- 
nity, with New England institutions. The writer immedi- 
ately addressed a note of inquiry to the Loivell Courier. 



328 HISTOEY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

In due time a reply was received referring him to Ward 
and Thompson, of Lowell. Correspondence was opened 
with Ward and Thompson, the writer was soon put in 
possession of the facts pertaining to the organization of 
the colony and in due time became a member and a 
stockholder. Upon the breaking up of the old company 
he declined to join the new project, but promised to 
keep in correspondence with the president of the new 
company, Josiah Thompson. It was the middle of July 
before the- writer could get his funds back from the old 
company and start for the west. On the last day of 
August, 1856, while negotiating a business transaction 
at Faribault with a view of settling there, he received 
a letter from Josiah Thompson, that the company had 
finally found a desirable location about twenty miles 
from Eed Wing, and that a claim and a share in the 
company had been reserved for him. Suspending fur- 
ther negotiations at Faribault, the writer started on foot 
and alone early Monday morning, September 1, for the 
promised land, not knowing where to find it. He took 
the road eastward from Faribault, proceeded through 
the big woods along East Prairie, so called, where there 
were a few settlers, and a little after noon, after crossing 
the Zumbro, here a small stream, found a small log 
building which was occupied as a store. No other 
building stood in the immediate vicinity. It was the first 
building on the townsite of Kenyou. The little store was 
in charge of a young man by the name of Barker. The 
writer purchased some crackers and cheese upon which 
he satiated his hunger. He inquired if any tidings had 
reached that place of a new settlement somewhere to 
the eastward and about twenty miles from lied Wing. 
The reply was, that at a place called Samners, a num- 



HISTOKY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 329 

ber of persons from the east had recently settled. Con- 
cluding that it might be the place he was in pursuit of, 
he continued his journey. Sumners was on the pres- 
ent site of Concord in Dodge county. It was sunset 
when the first settler's hut was reached. The writer 
here found a spring of water, a draught from which re- 
freshed his drooping spirits. He found that Sumners' 
was still three miles distant. He had already traveled 
twenty-five miles and was lame in every joint. Hob- 
bling along as best he could, he reached Sumners just 
as the last flickering twilight was fading in the west. 
At Sumners he found Beckwith, who had just returned 
from the valley of the Zumbro, where he had surveyed 
the townsite for the company, who had settled there. 
To his dismay he learned that the townsite Beckwith 
had surveyed was the goal of his travels, and was 
fourteen miles distant. The next morning he started 
for the new town following Beckwith's directions as to 
the road. He found a tolerably good wagon road to the 
present site of Roscoe. Here he found a little log store, 
at which he made inquiries as to the way, and, stocked 
up with crackers and cheese, he followed the grassy 
wagon trail and at length found himself as described 
above, the guest of the genial and honest-hearted Eng- 
lishman, Kellett. Smith and Doty's shanty had become 
a hotel. Travel had set in over the new road and many 
wayfarers were glad to avail themselves of mine host 
Smith's hospitality, which by the way, was without stint, 
within the compass of his means. Most of the mem- 
bers of the company lodged in the board shanty across 
the river, but took their meals at Smith's. Smith's 
hotel for several months was the center of interest and 
influence in the embryo city. A description of it may 



330 HISTORr OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

not be uninteresting. In dimensions it Avas twelve by 
eighteen feet on the ground, and twelve feet to the eaves. 
It was built of poplar logs about eight and ten inches in 
diameter, roughly hewn on the inside and outside. The 
interstices between the logs were filled with clay, accord- 
ing to the most primitive architecture. Tiie iioor for 
the upper story was about eight feet from the lower 
floor, and both floors were rough boards. The upper 
story was used exclusively as a sleeping room. There 
was a small window in the east gable. In this attic 
there were as many beds as could be placed ; some on 
rude bedsteads and some on the floor. These beds were 
made of prairie hay, and the bed clothes were mainly 
cheap blankets. There were also two beds in the lower 
room standing end to end. During the autumn the 
cooking and much of the housework was done in a 
lean-to shed at one end of the cabin. 

" Soon after the location of the company, new arrivals 
were frequent until Smith's hotel was filled to overflow- 
ing. The table fare was abundant, if not always palat- 
able. But in those days appetites were good and the 
food was eagerly disposed of. The fare consisted mainly 
of bread made from wheat flour, mixed with the fry of 
pork, and baked in large iron pans ; salt pork, occasion- 
ally boiled ; fresh beef or venison, which sometimes 
was allowed to remain out in the sun till it became slip- 
pery before it was cooked. Vegetables were .rare ; but- 
ter likewise, and when furnished was, in strength, about 
five-horse power. Molasses was a staple article. Coffee, 
or a decoction which went by that name, was an ever 
present beverage. Those who lodged at Dr. Perry's 
shanty over the river had comfortable beds and pure air 
at least. All was activity and stir. Every one was 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 331 

eager to secure a claim and get his shanty up before 
winter. Soon all the travel from Red Wing to the 
southward passed through th© new settlement. The 
amount of teaming increased daily, and in a few weeks 
the new road became a busy thoroughfare. The writer, 
upon his arrival, was met with a quasi cordiality. 
He was told by actions, if not in words, that he must 
look out for number one or get left, if he concluded to 
settle among them. The outlook was not as rosy as the 
letter, which induced him to go there, gave him reason to 
expect. Several of the members of the company had 
selected two and three claims each, ostensibly for their 
friends who were to follow them. Those bogus claims 
were respected by the members of the company and by 
ethers for a time. A claim had been selected for the 
writer, three miles away, which he never took the trouble 
to look up. He purchased one of the reserved claims, 
paying $350 for it. This transaction coming to the 
knowledge of the members of the company, and of 
Smith, created no little excitement. While the pur- 
chaser of the claim was not censured, the party selling 
was bitterly denounced as acting in bad faith, trying to 
speculate out of these extra claims instead of keeping 
them for friends, as was the understanding at the out- 
set. Smith had expected to make a handsome sum out 
of selecting claims for settlers, but gave up his chance in 
this direction to those members of the company who 
were on the ground to choose for themselves, and those 
they left behind. He now threatened to place a settler 
on every claim not actually occupied. So great was 
the excitement that the party selling the before-men- 
tioned claim bought off the writer by deeding him an 
undivided half of the 160 acres north of the school sec- 



332 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

tion, for the sura of $350. This quieted Smith, but not 
the members, who claimed that this tract had been pur- 
chased for the company and not on private account. 
Soon parties outside learned of these claims, which were 
held for so-called friends, and began to settle on them ; 
so that soon no claims were held except such as had been 
filed on according to law. 

"The question of naming the new town was the cause 
of no little discussion. Zumbrota was finally decided 
upon. The original members of the company were not 
men of practical experience and broad views in the 
matter of town building. The trustees especially were 
very narrow and shortsighted. They placed an extrav- 
agant price upon their town lots, and were not liberal 
enough to donate any for much desired improvements. 
One of the most important needs of the new town was 
a hotel. Ezra Wilder came over from Orouoco to build 
one. The trustees gave him no attention and were un- 
willing to make any concessions to him. Doty finally 
sold him two lots at a moderate price, in an undesirable 
location. He proceeded to erect a building for hotel 
purposes late in the fall, which he was not able to make 
comfortable till midwinter, though it was actually oc- 
cupied at the beginning of the winter. The frame of 
this building was put up and it was sided and the roof 
shingled by December 1. The weather was extremely 
cold, and a considerable depth of snow was on the 
ground. Perry had moved his shanty to a hillside, and 
made a basement for it in the ground. Into this he 
moved his wife and several children. Smith's cabin 
was full to overflowing. Another family besides Smith's 
occupied the lower story, while the attic was filled with 
lodgers. The writer had brought out from the east 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 33B 

some bedding. He and J. A. Thacher had Wilder lay 
a loose floor in the second story over the cook stove, and 
hang up sheets around to keep the snow out. Upon 
this floor a bed, filled with prairie hay, was laid and these 
two men lodged there for some weeks, with the mercury 
outside at oO below zero, and but a trifle above that 
indoors where they slept, They took their meals below 
at Wilder's table. Wilder's family consisted of his 
wife and two interesting daughters. How these women 
endured the rigors of that terrible winter in the half 
finished building, has ever been a mystery. So cold 
was it, that within four feet of the cook stove where 
these women cooked the food for several persons, water 
would freeze on the beard while one was washing his 
face. A few families came on in the fall, but they suf- 
fered many hardships and deprivations, which can 
scarcely be realized at this day. There were many cases 
of sickness and much discouragement. Dr. Perry's 
wife was sick all winter and nearly insane. Others 
were similarly att'ected. One poor fellow was taken 
down with typhoid fever at Smith's. The house was 
full of boarders. He soon died from want of care. It 
could not be given him. All travel soon ceased. Oc- 
casionally some one would go to Red Wing for the mail 
and needed supplies. T. P. Kellett had opened a store 
with a small stock of goods. No post-oftice was estab- 
lished till the following spring. Locomotion on the 
prairies was made on snow shoes. Those remote from 
timber found it difticult to keep warm during the winter. 
Snow fell about November 20, and remained on the 
ground till May of the following spring. Notwithstand- 
ing the setting in of winter all parties were eagerly 
planning to advance the interests of the new town. It 



334 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

was determined to change the route of the St. Paul and 
Dubuque stage through Zumbrota, and to open a road 
from Wabasha, on the Mississippi river, to Faribault. 
With the latter end in view, the writer, in company 
with J. A. Thacher, proposed to examine the route to 
be selected from Zumbrota to Kenyon where it would 
connect with the existing road. They started in the 
latter part of November. The snow was eight inches 
deep, and twice that depth in the prairie grass. It took 
two or three days to reach Faribault. The next day 
after their arrival, a heavy snow storm came on which 
continued two or three days. The return to Zum- 
brota presented a most dismal aspect. The writer, not 
feeling able to undertake the return over the prairie on 
foot, with the increase of snow and a high wind pre- 
vailing, decided to take the stage for Hastings. This 
he did and rode some thirty-five miles in a severe snow 
storm, the wind blowing almost a gale. He kept from 
suffering by lying on the bottom of the open sleigh, and 
covering himself with buffalo robes. Late in the after- 
noon he left this conveyance and stopped at a lone shanty 
on the open prairie, waiting for the stage which would 
soon be due from St. Paul on its way to Dubuque. It was 
dark before the stage came along which he took and 
after riding some fifteen miles more arrived at Cannon 
Falls. The stage stopped at this place over night. 
The hotel accommodations were somewhat primitive. 
The hotel consisted of two log buildings united. After 
getting warm and partaking bountifully of the homely 
fare, the writer was shown up stairs or up the step- 
ladder to bed. He slightly demurred at the outlook for 
the night's lodging, but on being told that no better 
accommodations could be had, he subsided and went to 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 335 

bed with most of his garments on. It soon became 
apparent that by morning he would be buried under 
the suow, as the wind was blowing and sifting it 
through every crevice. He arose and descended to the 
public room, where at least there was sufficient warmth 
from the overheated stove. Assuming an air of some 
dignity and giving the landlord to understand that he 
was one of the proprietors of the important new town 
of Zumbrota, he was again taken up the step-ladder and 
given a cozy little room with a good bed, which evi- 
dently was not allowed to ordinary guests. 

' The following morning the writer again took the 
stage and by the middle of the afternoon reached the 
Zumbro river two and a half miles below Zumbrota. 
It took two hours to get over this distance. He had to 
face a piercing northeast wind. The snow was drifted 
so that he had to crawl on his hands and knees in order 
to make any progress. He finally reached Wilder's 
hotel, benumbed with cold and nearly exhausted. 

"Thacher decided to return alone and on foot. As 
was expected he had not reached Zumbrota when the 
writer arrived there ; nor did he get there till after sun- 
set the next day. It had become intensely cold. All 
parties at Zumbrota feared that Thacher might have 
perished. A meeting was called to organize a rescuiug 
party to start next morning. Late in the afternoon a 
dark speck was seen upon the snow some three miles to 
the westward in the direction of Faribault. It was ob- 
served to move. All hands became interested in this 
moving object. Soon it was seen to be a man moving 
towards the town. It was conjectured to be Thacher and 
so proved. He had been three days on the way. The 
night before he reached home he was lost on the prai- 



336 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

rie. Finally espying a dark object in the distance, he 
found it to be a clump of woods on the Zurabro bottom. 
He made for this patch of woods hoping to find shelter 
from the piercing cold. Fortunately not far away he 
espied a light. Approaching it he found the cabin of 
a settler wliere he stopped for that niglit and thus un- 
doubtedly escaped death by freezing. 

" Soon after the excursion to Faribault, the writer 
left Zumbrota for Winona, where he remained till Feb- 
ruary. It was the morning of December 15. The mer- 
cury stood at thirty degrees below zero. A two-horse 
team drove up to the door of Wilder's hotel. Every 
available buffalo robe and blanket and bed tj^uilt was 
brought into requisition. Some eight or ten persons 
packed into the conveyance and started for Winona. 
All were going to the land office to prove up their 
claims and pay for their land. It took two days to 
make the trip. The intervening night was spent at a 
small house between Rochester and St. Charles. The 
place was a sort of half-way house designed to accom- 
modate travelei-s. There was but one sleeping room. 
Beds of prairie hay were laid upon the floor, which 
filled the entire space of one side of the room. The 
buffalo robes and blankets belonging to the party, con- 
stituted most of the bed clothes. When these rude beds 
were ready there was a rush for them. Two unfortu- 
nates, the writer was one of them, were left. These got 
their revenge by preventing tiie others from sleeping 
till long past midnight. Finally, all parties becoming 
exhausted, those on the fioor fell asleep, when the two 
unlucky ones robbed the others of a part of their bed- 
ding, and made themselves as comfortable as possible 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 337 

for the night. Some of the party went east from Wi- 
nona ; a part returned to Zumbrota. 

" The writer returned to Zumbrota about the middle 
of February. The snow was several feet in depth. A 
thaw about that time had made a hard crust, so that travel, 
except on a few roads, was impossible. On the prairie 
the snow was not hard enough to bear a man's weight, 
and it was impossible to get round except on snow 
shoes. 

" The few members of the company remaining all the 
winter in Zumbrota, were busy planning for the open- 
ing of spring, when large accessions of settlers were 
expected, and the parties who had gone East were ex- 
pected with their families. The first important end to 
gain was to open the St. Paul and Dubuque stage road 
through Zumbrota. The stage company had promised 
to make the change if a passable road be made. To 
open this road it became necessary to break a new track 
from Lee's, four miles southeast of Zumbrota, to Hader, 
eight miles to the northwest. All the inhabitants in 
the settlement and along the proposed new route, turned 
out on an appointed day, with shovels and axes, to cut 
down the brush and break through the snow crust, and 
a few yoke of oxen to tread the open track into some 
semblance of a road. After several days of hard work, 
the road was declared passable, and to the unspeakable 
delight of all, the stage for the first time made a trip 
through the incipient town. This was a great event. 
The next move was to secure a post-office. This was 
eventually done and T. P. Kellett appointed post-master. 

" The next important enterprise inaugurated was a 
bridge over the Zumbro at the foot of Main street. 
This bridge consisted of stringers of oak laid from bank 

23 



338 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

to bank upon which were laid for a floor poplar poles, 
hewed flat on the upper and lower sides. This primitive 
bridge was the only one for many years. After the 
twentieth of March, the settlers began to return ; new 
ones also began to arrive. The writer was appointed 
agent, with very limited authority, to negotiate for the 
sale of lots to the newcomers. The spring was late, and 
cold snow laid on the ground till near May. The ice 
did not break up in Lake Pepin till May 1, so that many 
of the families of the settlers were obliged to remain at 
tlie foot of the lake for days and weeks. There was a 
rush of people to Zumbrota in the spring. Many found 
claims on the prairie ; a few settled in town. A large 
number finding no chance for employment, and no 
building material being at hand — the roads being almost 
impassable it could not be hauled from Red Wing — 
left for other parts. 

" Those who remained exerted themselves to the 
utmost to boom the new town. A flouring mill was 
Iniilt, other enterprises inaugurated, high hopes enter- 
tained, but all these hopes were dashed by the financial 
crash in the fall of 1857. Zumbrota was a failure for 
the time and its projectors and proprietors in the 
dumps. Let others write its subsequent history. 

" It is hoped that this meagre story may interest the 
descendants of the first settlers. It is not pleasant 
for the writer to recall it. It brings to mind so much 
of struggle and hardship and disappointment." 

Zumbrota has now become a place of considerable 
importance. The best hopes of the first settlers have 
been realized. 

It is an incorporated village situated in the south- 
western corner of the township, surrounded by one of 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 339 

the finest agricultural regions in the world. Three 
railroads meet here : The Chicago & North-Western, 
Duluth, Ked Wing & Southern, and the Midland. A 
traveler will be surprised, in passing through the streets 
on a business day, at almost any season of the year, to 
see the teams of farmers, and other vehicles which line 
the fronts of stores and shops. 

There is a graded public school of high order. The 
first school building, erected in 1865, was totally de- 
stroyed by fire in less than two years. Another of 
larger dimensions was soon built, which has since 
received an addition. Six teachers and a principal are 
now employed. 

Miss Lizzie Shedd taught the first school in a hall 
over the first store, which was built by Thomas P. 
Kellett, in the fall of 1856. The same hall was for a 
few years used for religious exercises on the Sabbath. 
There are now five church edifices and a large num- 
ber of beautiful homes, besides hotels, stores and me- 
chanic shops. The churches are Congregational, Meth- 
odist, Episcopal, Lutheran and Baptist. Zumbrota has 
a bank, a flouring and a grist mill, and a creamery, all 
of which are doing a good business. 

The Zumbrota Independent, a weekly newspaper es- 
tablished here in 1875 by E. A. Mitchell, continues to 
give the news of the world to the villagers and sur- 
rounding regions, under the management of the original 
proprietor. 

The Zumbrota News, which was founded a few years 
later by W. W. Kinne, is also giving information to the 
people of the county through its weekly visits. 

A public library was established here in the early 
days, which, by an annual increase, has become an ex- 



340 HISTORY or GOODHUE COUNTY. 

tensive collection of rare and choice literature. They 
have also a public hall for political gatherings, lectures, 
and amusements. The basement story of the building 
is devoted to the use of the tire department. The peo- 
ple of this village are noted for their public spirit and 
private enterprise. 

There is another village, two miles east of the prin- 
cipal one, called Forest Mills, containing* extensive 
mills, and an enterprising population. 



APPENDIX. 

lu the accouut given of the early settlement of the 
town of Roscoe, in this work, the names of John T. 
Mitchell and Josiah Lothrop were inadvertently omitted. 
Both came in 1856, and are among the first pioneers, 
now living, in the county. 

Mr. Mitchell has represented the county in the State 
legislature, and Mr. Lothrop has been entrusted with 
public business in his town for the greater part of his 
sojourn there ; was a volunteer soldier in the Union 
army. Both are successful farmers on the same domain 
they settled thirty-six years ago. 

Goodhue county contains an area of about 764 square 
miles. Its population, according to the census in 1890, 
was 28,806 ; and at the present writing, December 6, 
1892, may be safely stated to be 30,000. About two- 
thirds of the people are engaged in farming. 

There are twenty-two township organizations, four 
incorporated villages, and one city. This county, for 
three successive years past, has been awarded the first 
premium at the State Agricultural Fair, for the best 
exhibit of vegetable products. 



IN MEMOEIAM. 



HON. WILLIAM W. PHELPS 



was born in Oakland county, Michigan, in the year 
1822 ; graduated at the University of his native state ; 
practiced law several years, being partner in the law 
office of Gen. Stevens ; was mai'ried in 1849 to Sarah 
B. Mann. He was elected a member of the legislature 
of the State of Michigan, and while a member of that 
body, was appointed, by President Pierce, register of 
the laud office which Avas soon to be opened at Red 
Wing, Minnesota. This appointment was obtained 
through the iuliaence of Senator Stewart, a warm per- 
sonal friend of Mr. Phelps', and one who gave him much 
encouragement at the beginning of his career. 

He came to Red Wiug in the fall of 1854, and, in 
connection with Hon. C. C. Graham, began arrange- 
ments for opening an office here for the sale of the pub- 
lic lands in the Red Wing land district. The lands 
were then but partially surveyed, and the territory of 
Minnesota, with the exception of a few villages along 
the Mississippi, unsettled, and its natural resources un- 
developed. 

Arrangements were completed and the United States 
land office opened for business on the first of February, 
1855. Mr. Phelps proved himself a faithful and effi- 
cient officer. His duties in the land office made him 



HISTOKY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 343 

acquainted with the needs of early pioneers, and he 
was always ready to help those who came without much 
capital to make a home for themselves in this new coun- 
try. Such was his popularity that he was elected rep- 
resentative to congress as soon as Minnesota was ad- 
mitted to the Union ; and while a member of that body 
did good service for his constituency. 

He was twice elected mayor of the city of Red Wing. 
And when in our country's greatest need a call was 
made upon her sons to maintain, at the peril of life, 
the supremacy of the Union, he was of the number of 
those who were ready to venture all in the cause of their 
country. 

In all that pertained to tlie prosperity of Red Wing, 
from the day of his coming here till the day of his 
death his efforts in the extension of business relations, 
in opening up channels of communication, public im- 
provements and kindred matters, the attitude and action 
of Mr. Phelps, as a citizen, has been that of a liberal 
and far-seeing man. Nor was his influence restricted to 
his own town or county. He was well known through- 
out the State as a man who could be relied upon to 
assist in advancing the best interests of the common-' 
wealth. He died August 3, 1873, and his earthly re- 
mains were deposited in Oakwood cemetery. A beauti- 
ful monument has been placed over his grave. 

PHILANDER SANDFORD 

Avas the first lawyer who settled in Red Wing. He 
visited the place in the summer of 1853, and invested in 
a claim-right of some lots very soon after the survey of 
the original town plat. He was born in Ontario county, 
New York ; emigrated to Detroit, Michigan, with his 



344 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

parents while quite young, and there studied law, and 
was admitted to the bar of the supreme court of that 
state in 1853. In March, 1854, he was married to Sarah 
J. Lee, and soon after wrote to a lady then in Red Wing, 
who was expecting to be ready to take boarders that 
season, that he should be here as early in the spring as 
possible, and expect to board at her house; and inti- 
mated that there would be " two of us" when he should 
arrive. The boarding-house keeper made preparations 
accordingly and in due time the young lawyer and his 
bride were settled among us and both entered heartily 
into every enterprise that would help build up the place. 
Mr. Sandford first built an office for his professional 
work, and next a residence for his family. He was ap- 
pointed district attorney by the governor of the terri- 
tory that year, and was elected to the same office after 
the full organization of the county. 

Mr. Sandford proved himself a good counsellor; was 
always ready to give safe legal advice in matters of 
litigation. He was a man of strict integrity in the trans- 
action of business intrusted to his care. He died May 
30, 1881. He made profession of his faith in Christ, 
and joined the Presbyterian church. He was also a 
member of the Masonic fraternity. 

WILLIAM W. SWENEY, M. D. 

Dr. Sweney was the second physician who settled in 
Minuesota for the purpose of practicing his profession. 
He located in Saint Paul in April, 1850. Dr. Murphy 
had settled there the year before. Dr. Sweney was the 
son of Alexander M. and Mary M. Kehr Sweney, and 
was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 
the year 1818. His father was of Scotch-Irish, and his 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 345 

mother of Piedmontese-Huguenot descent. When Wil- 
liam was eighteen years old he moved to Fulton county, 
Illinois, having previously obtained an academic educa- 
tion in his native town. 

He read medicine with Dr. AbramHuIl of Marietta, 
Illinois, practiced in connection with him in 1848-9, and 
graduated at Rush Medical College, Chicago, after set- 
tling in Minnesota. 

In May, 1852, he came to Red Wing, which was at 
the time an Indian town, on the Mississippi river, with 
an Indian farmer, John Bush, and an Indian mission- 
ary. Rev. Joseph W. Hancock. The doctor gave his 
services to the Indians, whenever called upon, freely, 
and was highly esteemed by them. 

After the Indians were removed, as settlers multi- 
plied, Dr. Sweney's professional business increased, and 
for a quarter of a century he had as many and as long 
rides as any one man could reasonably desire. He 
always had the confidence of the people up to the time 
he was unable to practice longer. 

He was a member of the Goodhue County, and of the 
State Medical Society; was president of the former in 
1872, and of the latter in 1873. He wrote several es- 
says on the "Climatology and Diseases of Minnesota;" 
a prize essay on the "Epidemics and Endemics of Min- 
nesota;" a prize essay on "Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis;" 
also on a few other subjects. 

He was elected to the territorial legislature in 1857, 
serving in the last session before Minnesota became a 
state. He also held office several terms in the munici- 
pality of Red Wing. In politics he was a state rights 
Democrat, but no disunionist ; not an active politician 
in his latter years. 



34(l HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

Dr. Sweuey was married in Faltou county, Illinois, 
in 1841, to Maria Freeborn, daughter of Richard Free- 
born, of that place, who emigrated to Minnesota early 
in the fifties, and died in Red Wing about 1870, in a 
good old age. 

Dr. Sweuey's favorite pastime was trout fishing, 
though he often indulged in the pursuit of other game 
in the early days. He was a good physician, cautious 
of giving medicine when he was convinced that none 
was needed, ever ready to attend to the calls of the suf- 
fering, whether poor or rich. He was a quiet and un- 
assuming man, yet always considered a prominent citi- 
zen in Red Wing. His death occurred in August, 1882. 
His funeral was attended, at the Episcopal church, by 
the largest number of all classes of citizens ever as- 
sembled on a like occasion in the previous history of 
the place. The church was crowded and its entrances 
thronged. The procession which followed his remains 
to their final rest iu Oakwood consisted of the various 
orders of secret societies, the firemen and all the various 
benevolent associations of the city. 

HON. CHRISTOrHEll C. GKAHAM. 

The following obituary appeared in the Red Wing 
Argus, dated August 17, 1891: 

" Christopher C. Graham, one of the oldest and best 
known citizens of our city and State, died Wednesday 
morning at eight o'clock of old age. He was born in 
Augusta county, Virginia, in October, 180B, but removed 
with his parents when only three months old to Lincoln 
county, Kentucky. In 1816 he removed to Boonville, 
Indiana. During his boyhood he attended such schools 
as were provided in his neighborhood, and later went to 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 347 

the academy at Montgomery, Ohio, where he finished 
his education. 

"Mr. Graham was elected to the lower house of the 
Indiana legislature in 1835, and was kept there until 
1841. The following year he was elected to the senate 
which position he occupied until 1846. At the breaking 
out of the Mexican war he was appointed by President 
Polk commissary of subsistence for the Second Indiana 
Infantry, but resigned after one year's service. He was 
also a member of the convention which framed the con- 
stitution of Indiana. 

"During the campaign preceding the election of 
President Pierce, Mr. Graham was a prominent candi- 
date for nomination to congress, but gave way to another 
prominent candidate, and in 1854 he was appointed to 
the land ojffice as receiver at Red Wing, and at once 
removed to that place, his family following a year later, 
the register being W. W. Phelps, who was also well 
known to the old residents of this section. In 1858 the 
land office Avas removed to Henderson, and Mr. Graham 
resided in that place until 1861. With the exception of 
the three years at Henderson, Mr. Graham has resided 
in this city. 

"In politics Mr. Graham was an unswerving Demo- 
crat, and yet he was liberal in his political views as in 
everything else. He served as mayor of this city for 
one year, and was elected justice of the peace in 1869, 
and has been almost unanimously re-elected every two 
years since, the last time being this spring. In 1872 he 
was a candidate for congress on the Democratic ticket, 
but was defeated by a small majority. 

"Mr. Graham was a member of the Episcopal church 
in this city, and for a number of years one of the vestry, 



348 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY. 

he declining a re-election this spring on account of in- 
creasing old age and its consequent infirmities. He 
was also a member of Red Wing Lodge No. 8, A. F. and 
A. M.; and although prevented of late years from at- 
tending its meetings his interest in that body never 
ceased. 

"July 7, 1837, he was married to Louisa H. Har- 
grave, of Boonville, Indiana, and four years ago they 
celebrated their golden wedding. 

" Mr. Graham was a man of the strictest integrity, a 
Christian in the highest sense of the term, of superior 
talent, and one of the best public speakers in the State. 
He was very domestic in all his tastes, and no father 
was ever happier than he when he Avas surrounded by 
his children. He was phenomenally quick at repartee, 
and no one ever enjoyed a joke better than he, or could 
see the ridiculous side of a proposition, and his sayings 
have become common property throughout this com- 
munity. He did not have an enemy in the Avorld, and 
although a man of strong convictions yet he never inter- 
fered in the belief of any one." 

CAPTAIN WILLETT W. DEKAY. 

In the month of June, 1891, another of the oldest 
residents of Red Wing departed this life Perhaps no 
one in the vicinity was better known at the time of his 
death than W. W. DeKay. He was born in Orange 
county, N. Y.,in 1831; emigrated to this county in 1854, 
where he had been a resident for nearly forty years. 

He enlisted in 1861, in Company E, Third Regiment, 
serving four years in the army; was promoted first to a 
lieutenancy, and afterwards became captain of this com- 



HISTORY OF GOODHUE^ COUNTY. 349 

pauy; was married in November, 1862, to Ellen O'Reily. 
His wife and four children survive him. 

He filled various offices in this city with a faithful- 
ness and industry seldom equalled ; was for several 
years chief of police ; subsequently health officer; and 
served as post-master for the term of four years. He 
was ever ready to help the needy and sympathize 
with the unfortunate ; was faithful in every trust im- 
posed upon him; a kind, true friend, a public spirited 
citizen has gone to his reward. 

Funeral services were attended in the Episcopal 
church, of which he was a member, by a large concourse 
of citizens, and a very large number followed his re- 
mains to rest in that abode of the dead, in the ornament- 
ing and beautifying of which he had taken so • much 
interest. 










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